What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 152 patients with thyroid cancer. The study was sponsored by National Cancer Institute and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
49% tumor response rate in advanced radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer.
The Lancet Oncology · 2010 · NCT00625846
These findings — that in advanced radioiodine-resistant differentiated thyroid cancer on pazopanib — were published in the The Lancet Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 152 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with thyroid cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Pazopanib is FDA-approved for kidney cancer and soft tissue sarcoma but is used off-label for advanced thyroid cancer. Two similar drugs — lenvatinib and sorafenib — are specifically FDA-approved for radioiodine-resistant thyroid cancer. Ask an endocrine oncologist which approved option fits your case.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open thyroid cancer trials
Institut Paoli Calmettes Thyroid Cancer Database
Database of Institut Paoli-Calmettes patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer
Radiofrequency Ablation Study in LatinX Patients
Benign thyroid nodules can still create cosmetic, compressive, or hormonal issues for patients. In the past, surgery was typically used to treat thyroid nodules causing the above issues through partial or complete thyroidectomy. More recently, minimally-invasive techniques have been developed to treat these issues. This study is investigating the use of one of these techniques, radiofrequency ablation, in Latinx patients with benign symptomatic thyroid nodules. This procedure is of interest because it avoids the risks of surgery and can be done outside an operating room. The study hypothesis is that the use of RFA is an effective and safe therapeutic option for LatinX patients with a symptomatic benign nodule wishing to avoid surgery.