EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MULTI-TARGETED KINASE INHIBITORS IN PROGRESSIVE, RADIOIODINE-REFRACTORY DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCERS: A META-ANALYSIS

Purpose: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the impact of oral multitargeted kinase inhibitors (MTKIs) in radioactive-iodine refractory locally advanced, recurrent/metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) on disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Materials and Methods: The PubMed/MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, EMBASE, Cochrane Library database and other search engines were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing MTKIs with placebo in locally advanced, recurrent/metastatic DTC. Pooled data were expressed as odds ratio (OR), with 95% con dence intervals (CIs, Mantel–Haenszel xed-effect model). Results: Three RCTs with a total patient population of 954 patients were identi ed. The use of MTKIs was associated with improved PFS (OR: 0.262, 95% CI: 0.19–0.35; heterogeneity (I2) = 22.4%; P < 0.0001), improved DCR (complete and partial responses + stable disease, P < 0.0001) and improved OS 0.66, 95% CI: 0.46–0.96 (I2 = 43%, P = 0.034). Lenvatinib (compliance = 87%) was associated with more grade ≥3 hypertension. However, its other adverse effects were much lower than sorafenib (compliance = 56%) and vandetanib. Conclusion: In radioactive iodine-refractory recurrent, metastatic DTC patients, lenvatinib and sorafenib were associated with improved PFS, DRC and OS rates, while the compliance was better with lenvatinib. Key words: Meta-analysis, multitargeted kinase inhibitors, progressive differentiated thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine- refractory

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastatic to Thyroid Gland, Presenting Like Anaplastic Carcinoma of Thyroid

Background. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has unpredictable and diverse behavior. The classic triad of hematuria, loin pain, and abdominal mass is uncommon. At time of diagnosis, 25%–30% of patients are found to have metastases. Bones, lungs, liver, and brain are the frequent sites of metastases. RCC with metastasis to the head and neck region and thyroid gland is the rarest manifestation and anaplastic carcinoma behaving metastatic thyroid mass is an extremely rare presentation of RCC. Case Presentation. A 56-year-old Saudi man with past history of right radical nephrectomy 5 years back presented with 3 months history of rapid increasing neck mass with dysphagia, presenting like anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Tru-cut biopsy turned out to be metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Patient was treated with radiation therapy 30 Gy in 10 fractions to mass. Patient died 4 months after the discovery of anaplastic thyroid looking metastasis. Conclusion. Rapidly progressing thyroid metastases secondary to RCC are rare and found often unresectable which are not amenable to surgery. Palliative radiotherapy can be considered for such patients

Bleeding in Locally Invasive Pelvic Malignancies: Is Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy a Safe and Effective Non-Invasive Option for Securing Hemostasis? A Single Institution Perspective

Introduction: Control of bleeding due to locally invasive disease is of paramount importance in the management of cancer patients. This study was undertaken to explore the outcomes of palliative intent hypofractionated radiation therapy (HRT) in advanced stage pelvic malignancies that presented with bleeding. Methods: This study enrolled patients treated with palliative intent hypofractionated radiation therapy from July 2015 to November 2017. In the inclusion criteria, all these patients had the common presenting complaint of bleeding from the tumor. These patients were not treated with radiation therapy before for the same indication. Patients with known bleeding disorders and those undergoing parallel interventions for bleeding control were excluded from the study. Bleeding was categorized based on the World Health Organization (WHO) scale for the classification of bleeding. Response assessment was classified into a complete response, partial response and no response. A comparison was made for the bleeding scale before and after HRT using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The comparison of mean hemoglobin levels before and after the HRT was calculated by paired t-test. Results: Forty-two patients with advanced pelvic malignancies qualified for inclusion in the study after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Among those analyzed, the median age was 67 years (range 37 – 95 years). The male and female proportion was 38% and 62% respectively. Different cancers included uterine cancer 31%, cervical cancer 24%, bladder cancer 21%, rectal cancer 17% and vulvar cancer in 7%. The baseline bleeding scale in these cases was found to be grade 1 in 12%, grade 2 in 55% and grade 3 in 33% cases. The median dose in our cohort was 20 Gy in five fractions over one week (range was 8 Gy to 40 Gy). Following HRT, the WHO bleeding score at one month was recorded as grade 0 in 57%, grade 1 in 31%, grade 2 in 7%, grade 3 in 5% and grade 4 in none. Toxicity profile did not show any grade 3 or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 Open Access Original Article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.2137 How to cite this article Shuja M, Nazli S, Mansha M, et al. (February 02, 2018) Bleeding in Locally Invasive Pelvic Malignancies: Is Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy a Safe and Effective Non-Invasive Option for Securing Hemostasis? A Single Institution Perspective. Cureus 10(2): e2137. DOI 10.7759/cureus.2137 above acute toxicity in the study. Response rates were 57% complete response, 36% partial response and 7% no response. The mean hemoglobin level post-treatment versus pre-treatment was found to be 9.6 g/dL versus 7.3 g/dL. Conclusions: Hypofractionated radiotherapy was found to be a safe and effective non-invasive palliative treatment modality for securing hemostasis in advanced pelvic malignancies that presented with bleeding

Pancreas as Delayed Site of Metastasis from Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Introduction. Follicular variant (FV) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has aggressive biologic behavior as compared to classic variant (CV) of PTC and frequently metastasizes to the lungs and bones. However, metastasis to the pancreas is extremely rare manifestation of FV-PTC. To date, only 9 cases of PTC have been reported in the literature. Pancreatic metastases from PTC usually remain asymptomatic or manifest as repeated abdominal aches. Associated obstructive jaundice is rare. Prognosis is variable with reported median survival from 16 to 46 months. Case Presentation. Herein we present a 67-year-old Saudi woman, who developed pancreatic metastases seven years after total thyroidectomy and neck dissection followed by radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) for FV-PTC. Metastasectomy was performed by pancreaticoduodenectomy followed by sorafenib as genetic testing revealed a BRAF V600E mutation. She survived 32 months after the pancreatic metastasis diagnosis. Conclusion. Pancreatic metastases are rare manifestation of FV-PTC and are usually sign of extensive disease and conventional diagnostic tools may remain to reach the diagnosis

Supraclavicular Lymphadenopathy: Initial Manifestation of Metastasis in Carcinoma of Cervix

Introduction. Carcinoma of cervix rarely metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes and is associated with poor prognosis. To date, only few case reports have been reported in the medical literature. Here, we report a case of this unusual manifestation of carcinoma of cervix. Case Presentation. A 39-year-old Saudi woman who was treated three years ago for bulky IB stage carcinoma of cervix with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adjuvant chemoradiation presented to us during her routine follow-up visit with left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Staging workup revealed additional para-aortic nodal and osseous metastases. The biopsy of left supraclavicular mass confirmed the diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix. Patient was started on chemotherapy and bisphosphonates. Conclusion. Supraclavicular lymph nodes are a rare site of metastasis in carcinoma of cervix, and this can be explained by outlining the drainage of the lymphatic system from the cervix. Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy is associated with variable prognosis

Supraclavicular Lymphadenopathy: Initial Manifestation of Metastasis in Carcinoma of Cervix

Introduction. Carcinoma of cervix rarely metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes and is associated with poor prognosis. To date, only few case reports have been reported in the medical literature. Here, we report a case of this unusual manifestation of carcinoma of cervix. Case Presentation. A 39-year-old Saudi woman who was treated three years ago for bulky IB stage carcinoma of cervix with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adjuvant chemoradiation presented to us during her routine follow-up visit with left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Staging workup revealed additional para-aortic nodal and osseous metastases. The biopsy of left supraclavicular mass confirmed the diagnosis of carcinoma of the cervix. Patient was started on chemotherapy and bisphosphonates. Conclusion. Supraclavicular lymph nodes are a rare site of metastasis in carcinoma of cervix, and this can be explained by outlining the drainage of the lymphatic system from the cervix. Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy is associated with variable prognosis