Sorafenib and thyroid cancer

BioDrugs. 2013 Dec;27(6):615-28. doi: 10.1007/s40259-013-0049-y.

Abstract

Sorafenib (Nexavar) is a multikinase inhibitor, which has demonstrated both anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the activity of targets present in the tumor cell [c-RAF (proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase), BRAF, (V600E)BRAF, c-KIT, and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3] and in tumor vessels (c-RAF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β). For several years, sorafenib has been approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma. After previous studies showing that sorafenib was able to inhibit oncogenic RET mutants, (V600E)BRAF, and angiogenesis and growth of orthotopic anaplastic thyroid cancer xenografts in nude mice, some clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of sorafenib in advanced thyroid cancer. Currently, the evaluation of the clinical safety and efficacy of sorafenib for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer is ongoing. This article reviews the anti-neoplastic effect of sorafenib in thyroid cancer. Several completed (or ongoing) studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in patients with papillary and medullary aggressive thyroid cancer. The results suggest that sorafenib is a promising therapeutic option in patients with advanced thyroid cancer that is not responsive to traditional therapeutic strategies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Niacinamide / adverse effects
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Niacinamide / pharmacology
  • Niacinamide / therapeutic use
  • Phenylurea Compounds / adverse effects
  • Phenylurea Compounds / pharmacology
  • Phenylurea Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Sorafenib
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Niacinamide
  • Sorafenib

Supplementary concepts

  • Thyroid cancer, medullary