Cancer centers collaborate to talk about TKI therapy in thyroid cancer | Endocrinology

Interesting - the drug I'm on (Sutent) is a TKI.  I didn't realize they were being used for Thyroid Cancer outside of clinical trials.  I wonder how insurance handles it?

 

Cancer centers collaborate to talk about TKI therapy in thyroid cancer

Carhill AA. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98:31-42.

• January 15, 2013

Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center collaborated recently to discuss the clinical use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in thyroid cancer patients. Their review of the institutions’ approach was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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“The recommended use of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy outside of clinical trials in patients with progressive thyroid cancer as well as the recognition by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) of the necessity for standardized approaches to patients receiving these biological agents have highlighted the need for guidance to prescribing physicians to improve patient safety and monitoring and to promote consistency and compliance with both institutional and industry standards,” researchers wrote.
According to the paper, TKIs that target angiogenesis and other tumor-promoting functions have yielded influential clinical findings in both differentiated thyroid cancer and medullary thyroid cancer.
Therefore, researchers in the department of endocrine neoplasia at the MD Anderson Cancer Center identified which patients should be placed on TKI therapy before initiation by conducting a review of medical history, laboratory data and performance status.
“Due to the duration of treatment, the potential for toxicities, and the need for regular monitoring, the importance of a detailed discussion and obtaining written informed consent from the patient before initiation of TKI therapy cannot be stressed enough,” researchers wrote.
The standards for oral TKI use in patients with thyroid cancer by this institution include: general practice standards, patient information/education, documentation and monitoring.
However, they advise clinicians to be aware of pharmaceutical-specific assistance programs for patients due to the expensive nature of the therapy.
“We believe that by using these tools, we will improve patient safety and monitoring, promote consistency among providers, and ensure compliance with consensus-derived safety standards for prescribing oral chemotherapy,” the researchers concluded.
Disclosure: Several researchers report financial ties with AstraZeneca, Bayer and Pfizer