FOR INFORMATION ON ADVANCED THYROID CANCER CLICK HERE
Do you have progressed or advanced thyroid cancer? Watch the trailer for ‘ Christine’s Story – living with advanced thyroid cancer
Use of TKI drugs in the UK for advanced Thyroid Cancer
There are new anticancer drugs called ‘tyrosine kinase inhibitors’ (TKIs) which are becoming available for the targeted treatment of various types of advanced thyroid cancers. Examples include sorafenib and vandetanib.
In addition to this your doctor will talk to you about any available clinical trials that may be suitable for your situation. These aren’t always available in every cancer treatment centre so if there is a trial available it may involve referring you to another hospital for further discussion.
Sorafenib (Nexavar) has been approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.
It is available in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund and in Scotland via the SMC
Vandetanib (Calpresa) has been approved for the treatment of progressive medullary thyroid cancer.
It is available in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund.
Cabozantinib (Cometriq) has been approved for the treatment of progressive medullary thyroid cancer.
It is available in England via the Cancer Drugs Fund.
It is also available to patients in Wales.
Lenvatinib (Lenvima) was licensed for use for patients with locally advanced or metastatic patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer in 2015.
It is now available in England and Scotland but not in Wales.
UPDATE: 13th July 2018. NICE have finally given their decision on Lenvatenib and Sorafenib.
Both drugs are recommended for the treatment of thyroid cancer which is no longer taking up RAI.
However,patients can only have access to one of the drugs.
This means that patients who are already taking Sorafenib will not be able to have Lenvatenib when and if they need it.
This is a dreadful decision.
The only exception is if a patient had has Sorafenib and had to withdraw from it due to toxicity.
We await comments from NHS E England on this .
UPDATE: 10th October 2016 the SMC has approved the use of Lenvima for differentiated thyroid cancer which means that patients in Scotland will be able to access the drug .Great news. BTCT had a role in making this happen via our comprehensive submission. Click here for more information.
Selunetemib will be available via clinical trials to some patients soon via clinical trials in the UK.[late 2016]
This TKI may encourage uptake of RAI again after patients have become non iodine avid. [no longer taking up RAI]
SMC ( Scotland ) approves use of Selpercatinib for use in some thyroid cancers
https://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/media/6241/selpercatinib-retsevmo.pdf
Watch Dr Kate Newbold presentation on the Updates on Treatment for Advanced Thyroid Cancer at the BTCT Patient / Doctor Forum December 2016