Vandetanib for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Clinical Pearls

Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Abramson Cancer Center, Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, discusses research into vandetanib for the treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

• A phase II study randomized 145 patients with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma to vandetanib or placebo
• This study saw fewer full responses than in the DECISION trial, though progression-free survival was 11.1 months compared with 5.9 months in the vandetanib and placebo arm, respectively.
• The vast majority of patients treated with sorafenib will need a second-line therapy, reinforcing the need for an efficacious agent in this space.