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Systemic Therapy
Source: Thyroid Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 9, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Context: Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer / Treatment Options for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is not responsive to iodine I 131 therapy. Treatment with individual anticancer drugs has been reported to produce partial remissions in some patients. Approximately 30% of patients achieve a partial remission with doxorubicin.[4] The combination of doxorubicin plus cisplatin appears to be more active than doxorubicin alone and has produced more complete responses.[5]
The combination of chemotherapy plus radiation therapy after complete resection may provide prolonged survival in some patients, but this treatment combination has not been compared with any one modality alone.[6,7]
An estimated 25% of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancers have an activating BRAF V600E variant.[8]
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Evidence (dabrafenib and trametinib):
A phase II trial of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, dabrafenib and trametinib, included 16 patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer and a BRAF V600E variant.[9][Level of evidence C2]
Source links and citations
A phase II trial of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, dabrafenib and trametinib, included 16 patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer and a BRAF V600E variant.[9][Level of evidence C2]
The confirmed overall response rate was 69%. The median duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were not reached.
A phase II trial of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, dabrafenib and trametinib, included 16 patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer and a BRAF V600E variant.[9][Level of evidence C2]
Twelve-month estimates were 90% for duration of response, 79% for PFS, and 80% for OS.
Based on this data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer with a BRAF V600E variant. Molecular testing for the BRAF V600E variant is advised for patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice