while most thyroid Cancer grows slowly and is treatable if detected early. anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) presents a significant challenge. This rare and highly aggressive tumor is associated with a poor prognosis, making effective treatment important. However, recent findings from a clinical trial conducted at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center provide new hope for patients suffering from a specific subtype of ATC.

Clinical trials have found a combination of cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapies aimed at a particular genetic mutation present in certain ATC tumor cells. This innovative approach appears to improve survival rates among patients with this aggressive form of cancer. “Patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma There is a need for treatments that work faster, and we have seen promising results with this combination treatment approach,” said Dr. Maria Cabanillas, principal investigator and professor specializing in endocrine neoplasia and hormonal disorders.

The findings were published Oct. 24 in the journal JAMA Oncology. According to the researchers, ATC tumors can exhibit significant genetic variation between patients, with each subtype having different driver mutations that influence tumor behavior and progression. Approximately 40 percent of ATC tumors have mutations in the BRAF gene, which significantly affects the prognosis and characteristics of the cancer. The trial focused specifically on 42 patients with BRAF-mutated ATC.

Eighteen of these patients received a treatment consisting of three drugs: atezolizumab (Techentric), a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy, combined with vemurafenib and cobimetinib, which are targeted therapies for BRAF mutations. The results were promising, with patients in this group having a median overall survival of more than 43 months. About half of these patients responded favorably to the treatment.

In contrast, a second group of 21 ATC patients with various mutations – specifically RAS (NRAS, KRAS, or HRAS) or NF1/2 mutations – received the combination of atezolizumab and cobimetinib. The median survival for this group was quite short, only 8.7 months, with only 14 percent of patients responding positively to the therapy.

Additionally, three patients whose tumors did not exhibit the mutations seen in previous groups received atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Avastin). Their median survival was about 6 months, with only one-third responding to treatment.

These findings underline the importance of identifying specific ATC mutations, as they can guide treatment decisions and potentially increase survival rates. “This study shows that immunotherapy really increases the benefits for patients,” Dr. Cabanillas emphasized. However, they acknowledged the need for more research to develop effective treatments for patients with non-BRAF mutations. “There are no approved and effective treatments for ATC with non-BRAF mutations, and we continue to focus our research in that area,” he said. “Our goal is to optimize outcomes for our patients, allowing them to live longer, better lives. “This study provides hope for patients with ATC.”

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