Anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), also known as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, is an aggressive form of thyroid cancer characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells in the thyroid gland. This form of cancer generally carries a very poor prognosis due to its aggressive behavior and resistance to cancer treatments.[1] The cells of anaplastic thyroid cancer are highly abnormal and usually no longer resemble the original thyroid cells and have poor differentiation.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Other namesAnaplastic thyroid carcinoma, ATC
Microscopic image of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. H&E stain.
SpecialtyENT surgery, oncology, endocrinology
TreatmentChemotherapy, radiation therapy

ATC is an uncommon form of thyroid cancer only accounting for 1-2% of cases, but due to its high mortality, is responsible for 20-50% of deaths from thyroid cancer.[2] The median survival time after diagnosis is three to six months.[2] Some studies report that 10% to 15% survive more than 1 year; 3-year and 5-year survival is very rare.[3][4] It occurs more commonly in women than in men and is seen most commonly in people ages 40 to 70.[2]

Signs and symptoms

Anaplastic thyroid cancer typically manifests as a rapidly enlarging neck mass.[2] Associated redness and swelling of the overlying skin sometimes occur. ATC commonly causes symptoms by compressing local structures, such as the esophagus, carotid arteries, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and trachea. This compression of local anatomic structures may cause symptoms such as difficulty controlling the voice, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or trouble breathing.[2] Other symptoms include cough, neck pain, or symptoms from the spread of cancer to distant sites in the body, such as the brain. ATC may rarely present with coughing up blood.[2]

Causes

Risk factors include: age > 65, long standing goiter, and exposure to chest radiation.

Pathogenesis

Nearly half of ATC cases occur in the setting of coexisting differentiated thyroid cancer. This suggests that many ATC cases have dedifferentiated from differentiated thyroid cancer and, as a result, become more aggressive and difficult to treat. Differentiated thyroid cancer is seen coexisting with ATC on fine-needle aspiration biopsies in 20-50% of cases.[2]

Anaplastic tumors have a high mitotic rate and frequently invades the local blood and lymphatic vessels.[5] Cellular death is frequently visualized on microscopic images.[2] The presence of regionally swollen lymph nodes in older patients in whom needle aspiration biopsy reveals characteristic vesicular appearance of the nuclei supports a diagnosis of anaplastic carcinoma. Microscopic images of ATC usually show inflammatory cells from the immune system such as T cells and macrophages.[2]

On immunohistochemistry testing, ATC is usually positive for the keratin, p53, and PAX8 proteins and is negative for thyroid transcription factor-1, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin.[2] ATC cells demonstrate high levels of PD-L1 expression.[2] BRAF and TERT mutations are seen more commonly in ATC than in differentiated thyroid cancer.[2]

Diagnosis

Fine-needle aspiration is essential in order to obtain a sample of the thyroid tissue to allow for microscopic examination. This allows an experienced pathologist to differentiate ATC from other diseases, such as other forms of thyroid cancer.[2] It is very important to distinguish between ATC and poorly-differentiated thyroid cancer and this distinction can be difficult to make.[2] The presence of PAX-8 positive staining and association with a different thyroid cancer that is adjacent to the ATC support the diagnosis.[2]

ATC is divided into several different subclasses based on its microscopic characteristics. These include sarcomatoid, squamoid, osteoclastic, paucicellular, rhabdoid, and carcinomasarcoid variants.[2] As of 2019, despite the fact that these ATC subtypes are recognized, this classification has not led to differences in management.[2] ATC is always considered to be stage IV when it is diagnosed.[6]

There are no reliable laboratory tests for ATC.[2] Ultrasound imaging of ATC lesions reveals a hypoechoic mass (appears dark on ultrasound) with invasion of the local structures and may help to better characterize the presence or absence of neck lymph node metastases.[2] If surgery is planned, however, then a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck must be performed.[2] A PET scan is preferred for staging ATC but a CT scan of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis can be substituted if the former is unavailable.[2] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is also recommended to assess for distant metastases.[2]

Differential diagnosis

In addition to ATC, a rapidly enlarging neck mass prompts consideration of several other important diagnoses. These include other cancers such as primary thyroid lymphoma, poorly differentiated thyroid cancer, sarcomas, and metastases from cancers of the upper digestive tract and respiratory tract.[2] Squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare cause of this presentation.[2]

Management
Anaplastic thyroid cancer seen on an ultrasound image
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells

ATC is considered an emergency cancer diagnosis since it poses a high risk of blocking the airway and/or esophagus due to its rapid growth in the neck, either of which can quickly cause a person's death by asphyxiation, if not immediately corrected.[2]

Unlike its differentiated counterparts, anaplastic thyroid cancer is highly unlikely to be curable either by surgery or by any other treatment modality, and is in fact usually unresectable due to its high propensity for invading surrounding tissues.[7] A multidisciplinary team including an endocrine pathologist, head and neck surgeon, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, endocrinologist, and a palliative care physician is essential for optimal management.[2] Palliative treatment consists of radiation therapy usually combined with chemotherapy.

The use of tracheostomy as part of supportive care for ATC is controversial.[2]

Medications, such as fosbretabulin (a type of combretastatin), bortezomib and TNF-Related Apoptosis Induced Ligand (TRAIL), are, however, under investigation in vitro and in human clinical studies. Based on encouraging Phase I and II clinical trial results with fosbretabulin,[8] a type of medication that selectively destroys tumor blood vessels, clinical trials have been evaluating whether the medication can extend the survival of patients with ATC.[9]

With the advent of molecular testing and next-generation sequencing, BRAF and MEK inhibitors are playing an increasing role in the management of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer harboring such mutations. The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib has shown significant increases in overall survival and has been approved by the FDA. Another similar combination is vemurafenib and cobimetinib.

Immunotherapy is also starting to play an important role in anaplastic thyroid cancer management with several ongoing clinical trials demonstrating promising effects. Specific drugs being tested are atezolizumab, pembrolizumab, and spartalizumab, amongst others.

Combinatorial therapy that is molecular-based may lead to significant tumor regression, potentially making patients amenable to curative surgery. [10]

Post-operative radiotherapy

The role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in thyroid cancer remains controversial and there is no level I evidence to recommend its use in the setting of differentiated thyroid cancers such as papillary and follicular carcinomas. Anaplastic thyroid carcinomas, however, are histologically distinct from differentiated thyroid cancers and due to the highly aggressive nature of ATC aggressive postoperative radiation and chemotherapy are typically recommended.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines currently recommend that postoperative radiation and chemotherapy be strongly considered. No published randomized controlled trials have examined the addition of EBRT to standard treatment, namely surgery. Radioactive iodine is typically ineffective in the management of ATC as it is not an iodine-avid cancer.[11]

Imbalances in age, sex, completeness of surgical excision, histological type and stage, between patients receiving and not receiving EBRT, confound retrospective studies. Variability also exists between treatment and non-treatment groups in the use of radio-iodine and post-treatment thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression and treatment techniques between and within retrospective studies.

Some recent studies have indicated that EBRT may be promising, though the number of patients studies has been small.[12]

Clinical trials for investigational treatments are often considered by healthcare professionals and patients as first-line treatment.

Add on therapy

In the absence of extracervical or unresectable disease, surgical excision should be followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. In the 18–24% of patients whose tumour seems both confined to the neck and grossly resectable, complete surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy could yield a 75–80% survival at 2 years.

There are a number of clinical trials for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma underway or being planned.[13]

Prognosis

The overall 5-year survival rate of anaplastic thyroid cancer has been given as 7%[14] or 14%,[15] although the latter has been criticized as being overestimated.[15] Additional factors that affect prognosis include the person's age, the presence of distant metastases, the dose of radiation administered to the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes, and if combined modality treatment is used.[2]

Treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer is generally palliative in its intent due to its highly aggressive nature and nearly universal mortality. Larger tumors, distant metastases, acute obstructive symptoms, and leukocytosis portend a poorer prognosis. Death is attributable to upper airway obstruction and suffocation in half of patients, and to a combination of complications of local and distant disease, or therapy, or both in the remainder.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is extremely aggressive; historically, in most cases death occurs in less than 1 year as a result of aggressive local growth and compromise of vital structures in the neck. ATC in most series has a median survival of 4 to 5 months from the time of diagnosis, with rare long-term survivors.[16]

Recent data however suggests that patients with BRAFV600E mutated disease, even if in an advanced stage, may have significantly better prognosis, as novel targeted therapies can extend tumor control considerably, while also leading to tumor burden decrease and potentially make patients candidates for surgery.[17] Recent advances show that using a combination of novel targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and surgery, 1 year and 2 year survival for anaplastic thyroid cancer patients have increased to 59% and 42%, respectively.[18]

Notable cases

References
  1. Liu AH, Juan LY, Yang AH, Chen HS, Lin HD (2006). "Anaplastic thyroid cancer with uncommon long-term survival". J Chin Med Assoc. 69 (10): 489–91. doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(09)70314-4. PMID 17098674.
  2. Chintakuntlawar, AV; Foote, RL; Kasperbauer, JL; Bible, KC (March 2019). "Diagnosis and Management of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer". Endocrinology and Metabolism Centers of North America (Review). 48 (1): 269–84. doi:10.1016/j.ecl.2018.10.010. PMID 30717908.
  3. Zivaljevic, Vladan, MD, PhD, Vlajinac, Hristina, et al. Case-Control Study of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients as Controls. Endocrinologist. 2010;20(6):308-311. doi:10.1097/TEN.0b013e3181fd02f2.
  4. Rodriguez JM, Pinero A, Ortiz S, et al. Clinical and histological differences in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Eur J Surg. 2000;166:34-38.
  5. Hu MI, Vassilopoulou-Sellin R, Lustig R, Lamont JP. "Thyroid and Parathyroid Cancers" in Pazdur R, Wagman LD, Camphausen KA, Hoskins WJ (Eds) Cancer Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach. 11 ed. 2008.
  6. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th edition, p.2934
  7. Haigh PI (2000). "Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma". Curr Treat Options Oncol. 1 (4): 353–7. doi:10.1007/s11864-000-0051-8. PMID 12057160.
  8. Granata, Roberta; Locati, Laura D.; Licitra, Lisa (October 2014). "Fosbretabulin for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer". Future Oncology (London, England). 10 (13): 2015–2021. doi:10.2217/fon.14.154. ISSN 1744-8301. PMID 25396774.
  9. Sosa, Julie A.; Elisei, Rossella; Jarzab, Barbara; Balkissoon, Jai; Lu, Shiao-ping; Bal, Chandrasekhar; Marur, Shanthi; Gramza, Ann; Yosef, Rami Ben; Gitlitz, Barbara; Haugen, Bryan R.; Ondrey, Frank; Lu, Charles; Karandikar, S.M.; Khuri, Fadlo; Licitra, Lisa; Remick, Scot C. (February 2014). "Randomized Safety and Efficacy Study of Fosbretabulin with Paclitaxel/Carboplatin Against Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma". Thyroid. 24 (2): 232–240. doi:10.1089/thy.2013.0078. PMID 23721245.
  10. Maniakas A, Dadu R, et al., Overall Survival in Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, 2000-2019 "JAMA Oncology",https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2769127
  11. Ford D, Giridharan S, McConkey C, et al. (2003). "External beam radiotherapy in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer". Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 15 (6): 337–41. doi:10.1016/S0936-6555(03)00162-6. PMID 14524487.
  12. Meadows KM, Amdur RJ, Morris CG, Villaret DB, Mazzaferri EL, Mendenhall WM (2006). "External beam radiotherapy for differentiated thyroid cancer". Am J Otolaryngol. 27 (1): 24–8. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2005.05.017. PMID 16360819.
  13. "American Thyroid Association - Thyroid Clinical Trials". Archived from the original on 12 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  14. cancer.org > Thyroid Cancer By the American Cancer Society. In turn citing: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual (7th ed).
  15. Numbers from National Cancer Database in the US, from Page 10 in: F. Grünwald; Biersack, H. J.; Grünwald, F. (2005). Thyroid cancer. Berlin: Springer. ISBN 978-3-540-22309-2. (Note:Book also states that the 14% 10-year survival for anaplastic thyroid cancer was overestimated)
  16. Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N, and Mitchel RN, "Robbins basic Pathology", Saunders, 8th ed., 2007.
  17. Maniakas A, Dadu R, et al., Overall Survival in Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, 2000-2019 "JAMA Oncology",https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2769127
  18. Maniakas A, Dadu R, et al., Overall Survival in Patients With Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma, 2000-2019 "JAMA Oncology",https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2769127
  19. Rajan, Greg (October 29, 2017). "Astros manager A.J. Hinch stands up for friend Kevin Towers". Houston Chronicle.
Classification
External resources

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Support Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/anaplasticthyroidcancer/

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