Winston Tan, MD

Winston Tan, MD, consultant, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, and associate professor of medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses 2 agents that have advanced the treatment landscape for patients with thyroid cancer, including the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lenvatinib (Lenvima) and another TKI, sorafenib (Nexavar).

In the past, patients with thyroid cancer were primarily treated with chemotherapy, according to Tan. However, the progression-free survival (PFS) with chemotherapy was very short. Lenvatinib and sorafenib both have proven to prolong PFS. Lenvatinib could extend PFS by at least 1 year or longer, and sorafenib prolongs PFS by at least 6 months.

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Winston Tan, MD, discusses 2 agents that have advanced the treatment landscape for patients with thyroid cancer, including the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor lenvatinib and another TKI, sorafenib.

Treatments Improve PFS in Thyroid Cancer

Winston Tan, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Mayo Clinic, discusses the emergence of novel agents for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), namely agents like avapritinib (BLU-285) and ripretinib (DCC-2618), which have shown promise in ongoing clinical trials.

Any drug that has the ability to delay progression of disease is a good treatment option, says Tan. It is also important, however, to find the maximum tolerated dose in clinical trials to limit toxicity in patients with GIST. Another important component to clinical trials is molecular testing. Identifying molecular targets and then hitting those targets may help oncologists to control the disease even longer.

Even with the emergence of promising new agents, physicians should not discount the drugs that are already approved for the treatment of locally advanced GIST in the adjuvant setting. The primary drug is imatinib (Gleevec), which works well for patients with

Winston Tan, MD, discusses the emergence of novel agents for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors, namely agents like avapritinib and ripretinib, which have shown promise in ongoing clinical trials.<br />
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Discussing the Potential of Novel Agents for Treatment of GIST

Winston Tan, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at the Mayo Clinic and vice president of the Florida Society for Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with thyroid cancer. He highlighted the importance of first determining if a patient with thyroid cancer has benign or malignant thyroid nodules, which can be identified with the use of diagnostic biopsies. He also discussed the standard-of-care treatment options for these different subtypes of patients once they are identified.

The primary treatment for patients with thyroid cancer is surgery, Tan says. For patients that are diagnosed with benign and localized disease, they can receive a thyroidectomy. However, for patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer, it is appropriate to combine surgery with a radioactive iodine treatment.

Winston Tan, MD, discusses the current treatment landscape for patients with thyroid cancer. He highlighted the importance of first determining if a patient with thyroid cancer has benign or malignant thyroid nodules, which can be identified with the use of diagnostic biopsies. He also discussed the standard-of-care treatment options for these different subtypes of patients once they are identified.

Treatment Options Differ for Patients With Benign or Malignant Thyroid Cancer

Winston Tan, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Mayo Clinic, and vice president of the Florida Society for Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), discusses the work of FLASCO, which helps improve the treatment of patients with all cancers across the state.

Working to improve patient care, FLASCO advocates for patients with cancer throughout Florida and encourages patient support groups as well. Additionally, the organization has been actively training healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines, including nurse practitioners, hematologists, and oncologists. Symposia are another component of education from FLASCO. The symposia occur around the state and educate people on the various disease states and treatment options.

Winston Tan, MD, discusses the work of the Florida Society for Clinical Oncology, which helps improve the treatment of patients with all cancers.

Improving Treatment of Patients Across Malignancies Through FLASCO

The Rapid Integration Program, a training initiative for new physician&rsquo;s assistants and nurse practitioners working in the field of oncology, is a Florida Society of Community Oncology (FLASCO) initiative that came from an ASCO meeting. Winston Tan, MD, of the Head and Neck Cancer Center at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, speaking during the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting, was in attendance at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting when the idea for a training program was first introduced.

Prior to the formation of the Rapid Integrations Program, Tans explains, there was a knowledge gap, and advanced practice providers (APPs) needed to have a better understanding of hematology/oncology basics, how to integrate into private or academic practices, communicating with patients, clinical trials, the business of oncology, and more. The need for more education led to a one-day course held twice per year (the Rapid Integrations Course) in the state of Florida during which experienced APPs speak before those that are new to the field. Eventually, FLASCO also formed the Making Strides Program, a similar initiative to the  Rapid Integrations Program, which educates experienced clinicians on the same hematology/oncology topics to meet the need for seasoned APPs to learn the latest advances in the field.

The Rapid Integration Program, a training initiative for new physician&rsquo;s assistants and nurse practitioners working in the field of oncology, is a Florida Society of Community Oncology (FLASCO) initiative that came from an ASCO meeting. Winston Tan, MD, of the Head and Neck Cancer Center at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, speaking during the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting, was in attendance at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting when the idea for a training program was first introduced.<br />
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Winston Tan, MD | Authors

Articles

Treatments Improve PFS in Thyroid Cancer

Discussing the Potential of Novel Agents for Treatment of GIST

Treatment Options Differ for Patients With Benign or Malignant Thyroid Cancer

Improving Treatment of Patients Across Malignancies Through FLASCO

Leading Oncology Education With the FLASCO Rapid Integrations Program