Background/aim: Radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (RR-DTC) has been treated with multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs), e.g., sorafenib (SOR) and lenvatinib (LEN). We analyzed the outcomes of RR-DTC patients who underwent SOR or LEN treatment at Kuma Hospital.
Patients and methods: We enrolled 21 and 18 patients treated with SOR and LEN, respectively.
Results: The incidence of partial response in the LEN group was significantly higher than that in the SOR group. Serum thyroglobulin significantly decreased from the beginning of treatment to 1 month later in the LEN group (not in the SOR group). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly decreased at 1 month later in both groups. An NLR ≥3 at the start of MKI treatment had a prognostic impact.
Conclusion: For RR-DTC, LEN could be more effective than SOR, at least in the short term. The first-line drug should be selected based on other factors (e.g., adverse events, patient background).
Keywords: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma; lenvatinib; prognosis; sorafenib.
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