Anaplastic Cancer Flashcards
1
Q
What is anaplastic thyroid cancer?
A
Undifferentiated thyroid cancer
Very aggressive
2
Q
What is the commonly associated genetic mutation with anaplastic cancers?
A
p53 mutations in 15% of tumours
3
Q
Summary of genetic mutations in histological subtypes of thyroid cancers
A
Papillary thyroid cancer: BRAF, about 20% have RET
Follicular thyroid cancer: PAX8, PPARgamma
Medullary thyroid cancer: RET
Anaplastic: p53
4
Q
Treatment anaplastic thyroid cancer?
A
Palliative/symptomatic
-adjuvant or primary palliative therapy with CRT/external beam radiation is frequently employed
Doxorubicin, Cysiplatin
Surgery is not useful as tumour spreads quickly
may need tracheostomy if distant mets
