Thyroid Cancer Treatment | RGCC Internaional

The thyroid gland, a small organ at the anterior aspect of the neck, plays a crucial role in the body's metabolism as it produces thyroid hormones that regulate energy balance and many bodily functions. Thyroid cancer is a comparatively rare form of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, around 44,020 new people will be diagnosed with the disease in 2025, with women being affected three times more frequently than men. In the EU, the European Cancer Information System (ECIS) predicts circa 50,890 people to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2025 — 39,040 women and 11,850 men. This accounts for around 2% of all cancers. Fortunately, the treatment of thyroid cancer has a high success rate.

However, patients usually have to take hormone substitutes even after successful treatment. A diagnosis of thyroid cancer is therefore not only a physical challenge, but also has an emotional impact on patients and their families. In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the treatment of thyroid cancer and modern approaches to personalized therapy.

Thyroid cancer occurs in various forms, each with different characteristics and symptoms:

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC): The most common form, which usually grows slowly and can spread to the lymph nodes.
Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC): This form often spreads via the blood to other organs, such as bones or lungs.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC): A rare carcinoma that originates from the so-called C-cells of the thyroid gland and often has genetic causes.
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC): A very rare but aggressive form that grows rapidly and often requires intensive therapy.

Common symptoms include a lump in the throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and swollen lymph nodes. Early examination and diagnosis are crucial for successful treatment.

During an examination, carcinomas are differentiated according to their deviation from normal tissue. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancer are considered well-differentiated tissues as they have a high degree of correspondence with the original tissue. The anaplastic variant, on the other hand, is considered undifferentiated. It can only be traced back to the actual original tissue by means of certain immunohistochemical examinations. This classification of the tumor tissue, known as grading, plays an important role in both the treatment strategies of thyroid cancer and the chances of recovery. The care team works closely with the patients to decide on the most fitting treatment options.

Surgery

Surgery is the primary treatment method for almost all forms of thyroid cancer. The aim is to completely remove the tumor and potentially affected lymph nodes. There are two main types of surgery:

Total thyroidectomy: The entire thyroid gland is removed. This procedure is often performed for papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, especially if the cancer is advanced or there is a high likelihood of recurrence.
Hemi-thyroidectomy: Only part of the thyroid gland is removed. This procedure is used for small tumors limited to one lobe

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is mainly used for thyroid cancer in special cases, for example if the tumor cannot be operated on or if there are still tumor remnants after the operation.

In this procedure, high-energy radiation destroys the tumor cells in the thyroid gland and lymph nodes by damaging their DNA. This prevents the cancer cells from dividing and spreading further. The prerequisite is that the tumor cells have not yet spread. It is often used for aggressive types of cancer such as anaplastic carcinoma or when radioiodine therapy is not effective. Radiotherapy can be used in a very targeted manner and is therefore less stressful on the body than chemotherapy.

Radioiodine Therapy

Radioiodine therapy is a unique and effective treatment method that is used specifically for differentiated thyroid carcinomas (papillary and follicular). It utilizes the thyroid gland's ability to absorb iodine. Patients take radioactive iodine (iodine-131) in the form of a capsule or liquid. The iodine is absorbed by the remaining thyroid cells and tumor cells. Inside the cells the radiation specifically destroys the tumor without damaging the surrounding tissue.

This therapy is used after a total thyroidectomy to eliminate any remaining tumor cells or metastases. It is also used for recurrent thyroid cancer. Although patients are briefly radioactive during treatment and must remain isolated, this unique method has comparatively few side effects.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is rarely used for thyroid cancer, as most forms respond to other treatments, such as radioiodine therapy. It is mainly used for aggressive and advanced forms of tumors such as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma or metastatic tumors.

Chemotherapeutic drugs inhibit cell division and destroy rapidly growing cancer cells. They are administered systemically, usually in the form of infusions.

Chemotherapy is often combined with other procedures, such as radiotherapy, to increase its effectiveness. However, patients often experience side effects such as nausea, weakness and hair loss. For this reason, localized therapies with less systemic impact are preferred where possible.

Surgery is often the first step in the treatment of thyroid cancer. The entire thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) or part of it is removed. The operation is usually followed by radioiodine therapy to eliminate any remaining tumor cells. As the thyroid gland is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones, patients must take thyroid hormones in tablet form for the rest of their lives after the operation. These thyroid hormones replace the natural hormones and prevent the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from rising in the blood, which reduces the risk of a relapse.

Possible consequences of surgery include:

limited mobility of the throat
hoarseness
difficulty swallowing

These symptoms often improve over time. Patients are monitored closely in order to detect any recurrence of the tumor in good time. Regular checks of TSH levels, ultrasound examinations and examinations of tumor markers are part of aftercare.

Therapy of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

Medullary thyroid carcinoma requires specialized therapy, as it often has genetic causes and affects the C-cells of the thyroid gland. In most cases, surgery is required to completely remove the thyroid gland and the affected lymph nodes. As medullary carcinoma does not respond to radioiodine therapy, chemotherapy is often used after surgery and in advanced stages of the disease to inhibit the spread of the tumor cells.

Therapy of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare and aggressive form of thyroid cancer. As it grows rapidly, it requires comprehensive treatment, which often involves a combination of surgery, radioiodine therapy and chemotherapy. In some cases, experimental approaches such as targeted therapies or immunotherapies are used to combat the tumor. We offer these modern therapies to doctors in the RGCC network.

Therapy of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma

Follicular thyroid carcinoma usually responds well to radioiodine therapy. After surgical removal of the thyroid gland, the patient takes iodine in radioactive form, which specifically kills the remaining tumor cells. As the carcinoma can spread via the bloodstream, careful aftercare and regular check-ups are required to ensure a complete cure.

Therapy of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common form and usually grows slowly. In this case, radioiodine therapy is usually used after surgery to completely remove the tumor cells. As papillary carcinoma often spreads to the lymph nodes, some of them are also removed during the operation. Thyroid hormones are administered after treatment to lower the TSH level and prevent the tumor from recurring.

Personalized cancer therapy is a central approach in modern oncology and is also playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of thyroid cancer. It aims to adapt the therapy individually to the genetic, molecular and clinical characteristics of the tumor as well as to the specific needs of the patient. This approach can not only improve treatment outcomes, but also minimize side effects.

Personalized cancer therapy is based on findings from molecular biology and genetics that show that types of cancer - even within the same organ region - can be very different. In the case of thyroid cancer, this means that treatment is not only tailored to the general type of tumor (papillary, follicular, medullary, anaplastic), but also to the molecular characteristics such as genetic mutations and biomarkers.

Genetic Analysis and Biomarkers

The genetic changes responsible for tumor growth in thyroid cancer are increasingly being investigated. Important genetic markers are:

BRAF mutations: Particularly common in papillary thyroid carcinoma. They influence the choice of targeted therapies.
RET proto-oncogene mutations: Characteristic of medullary thyroid carcinoma, especially in familial cases (multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, MEN2).
RAS mutations: Relevant for some follicular thyroid carcinomas.
TERT promoter mutations: Common in more aggressive forms such as anaplastic thyroid cancer and associated with a poorer prognosis.

Genetic testing can identify which mutations are present, enabling the selection of targeted drugs.

Targeted Therapies

As a result of discoveries about genetic changes, targeted therapies that act specifically on tumor cells are now available:

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs): Drugs such as Vandetanib or Cabozantinib are used for medullary thyroid carcinoma as they block the RET proto-oncogene.
BRAF inhibitors: Drugs such as Dabrafenib and Trametinib are effective in papillary thyroid carcinoma with BRAF mutations.
Immunotherapies: Although not yet widely used in thyroid cancer, they offer potential in aggressive and resistant tumors.

Liquid Biopsy

Liquid biopsy is an innovative technique in which tumor phenotypic and genetic information is determined from a blood sample. It makes it possible to monitor the course of the disease and the effectiveness of therapies without invasive procedures.

As part of personalized cancer therapy, a cancer blood test is essential for the individual diagnosis of thyroid cancer. This is because carcinomas differ not only in terms of differentiation, but also in terms of genetic mutations, biomarkers and at a molecular level. In addition, the stage of the disease and the individual circumstances of each patient influence the treatment. RGCC cancer blood tests are used for early detection and for the analysis of tumor cells. The test results from our laboratories give doctors an additional tool for personalized diagnostics. This allows specialized oncology teams to prescribe the best thyroid cancer treatment for their patients.

Speak to your healthcare provider to discuss which RGCC test can be used to diagnose thyorid cancer, detect specific biomarkers and personalize thyroid cancer treatment.

Oncotrace

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Oncocount

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Oncotrail RGCC

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Metastat

investigates the proteins that are related to the distant spread of cancer and the potential metastatic properties of…

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Onconomics

provides highly detailed and accurate information about how effective specific anti-cancer drugs and targeted therapies are in treating…

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Onconomics Plus

provides information about the effect of specific anti-cancer drugs, targeted therapies and natural treatments on the cancer…

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Onconomics Extracts

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Onconomics Extracts +

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ChemoSNiP

analyzes how each body reacts to a chemotherapy agent. It helps clinicians make superior decisions on which medication(s)…

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Immune-Frame

provides insights into the current state of a patient’s immune system. It is used to guide treatment and…

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ArrayCGH RGCC

helps identify chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders.

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CAMBISeq

is used to predict cancer treatment response. The test analyzes 500+ genes, which are used as biomarkers to…

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Onco-D-Clare

Early detection can make all the difference. Onco-D-Clare can help identify cancer risk even before symptoms appear.

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InVyomma Plus

focuses on gut microbiome profiling, including analysis of short-chain fatty acids, and their association with cancer.

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The chances of recovery from thyroid cancer are generally very good, depending on the type and stage of the cancer. Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas have a particularly high survival rate, especially if they are detected early.

For more aggressive forms such as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, the prognosis is less favorable, although treatment options have improved in recent years. Radioiodine therapy and targeted drug therapy now offer many patients with thyroid cancer better treatment options. For patients with medullary thyroid cancer, there are also specific genetic tests and screening programs that enable early detection and treatment.

The thyroid gland plays a central role in the body, and a loss of its function can have far-reaching effects on well-being. However, thanks to modern personalized therapies for thyroid cancer, regular examinations and good aftercare, most patients today regain a high level of quality of life.

Thanks to targeted research and medical progress, new therapeutic approaches are constantly emerging to combat thyroid cancer even more precisely and effectively. Scientists around the world - including the expert teams at RGCC International - are working tirelessly to develop new treatment strategies and tackle previously unsolved medical challenges.

Would you like an early diagnosis, a comprehensive analysis of your disease or effective monitoring of your therapy? Then you are in good hands with us! Our advanced testing methods, available exclusively through our network of highly qualified clinicians, offer you state-of-the-art options for thyroid cancer screening and monitoring. Our diagnostics are also successfully used for other types of cancer such as breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. Do you have any questions or would you like more information? Our specialized team is always at your disposal and will be happy to support you on your road to recovery.