Background: Oncocytic carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare disease, characterized by a poor prognosis and low response rate to radioiodine therapy. Crizotinib is a specific anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor, which was initially developed in non-small cell lung cancer. Other solid tumors harboring a translocation in ALK have been described, such as renal carcinoma, thyroid, colorectal, ovarian cancers, and spitzoid melanoma. The research of ALK rearrangements in thyroid tumor is a promising therapeutic track, and treatments need to be explored.
Case summary: We report the case of a 76-year-old woman with a history of multinodular goiter, who was hospitalized for impairment of her general condition. She was diagnosed with metastatic oncocytic thyroid cancer. Synchrone metastases were found: Multiple mediastinal lymphadenopathies, lytic bone lesions and bilateral mammary lumps. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed an ALK rearrangement in 61% of cells. No other mutation was found. A tumor board discussion based on molecular characteristics of the tumor suggested initiating a daily treatment by crizotinib, a specific ALK inhibitor. A positron emission tomography scan performed 4 mo after the initiation of crizotinib showed a complete metabolic response.
Conclusion: This case highlights an unexpected efficacy of crizotinib in an ALK-rearranged thyroid tumor, and the need of further assessments.
Keywords: Case report; Crizotinib; Hürthle cell tumors; Medicine; Oncocytic tumors of the thyroid; Precision.
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