Validation of two predictive models for survival in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

Background: The prognosis of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains dismal. A small portion of patients experience longterm survival and need to be identified before treatment allocation. Survival scores may guide clinicians making more informed decisions about treatment options and improve the understanding of patients' prognosis.

NTRK fusion events and targeted treatment of advanced radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer.

Purpose: Pathogenic fusion events involving neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) have been described in ~ 2% of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The selective tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitors entrectinib and larotrectinib have been approved in a tumor agnostic manner based on phase 1/2 clinical trials. In a real-world setting at five referral centers, we aimed to describe the prevalence of NTRK gene fusions and the efficacy and safety of TRK inhibitor treatment for non-medullary, advanced thyroid cancer (TC).

Thyroidal Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Protein Expression and Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with COVID-19: Results from a Retrospective Case Series and a Prospective Cohort Study.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 has initially been known as a respiratory disease but in the course of the pandemic the understanding has emerged that severity is owing to fatal inflammatory responses apart from lung injury. In this context, endocrine disorders such as thyroiditis as well as pituitary dysfunction in addition to nonthyroidal illness syndrome have been described. Furthermore, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor, has been detected in most endocrine tissues, including the thyroid gland.

Role of surgery to the primary tumor in metastatic anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: pooled analysis and SEER-based study.

Purpose: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an orphan disease with a fatal outcome. Surgery to the primary tumor in metastatic ATC is controversial. Determination of specific surgical techniques may help facilitate local control and, hence, beneficial overall and disease-specific survival.

Treatment of RET-Positive Advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer with Multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors-A Retrospective Multi-Center Registry Analysis.

Background: (rearranged during transfection) variants are the most prevalent oncogenic events in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). In advanced disease, multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (MKIs) cabozantinib and vandetanib are the approved standard treatment irrespective of status. The actual outcome of patients with -positive MTC treated with MKIs is ill described.

Initial Evaluation of Therapy Response after Adjuvant Radioiodine Therapy in Patients with Early-Stage Papillary Thyroid Cancer-Does Time Matter?

Background: The aim was to assess ablation success after initial radioiodine (RAI) therapy in early-stage PTC patients and compare outcomes of first diagnostic control after 6 and 9 months (6m/9m-DC) to examine whether time could possibly avoid unnecessary overtreatment.

Methods: There were 353 patients who were matched regarding age, sex, and tumor stage and divided in two groups depending on time of first DC (6m- and 9m-DC). Therapy response was defined as thyroglobulin level <0.

[Medullary thyroid carcinoma: current clinical progress].

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is infrequently found among all thyroid nodules in previously iodine deficient regions. Measurement of serum calcitonin is an important tool for early identification of MTC among the large number of thyroid nodules. With the use of modern laboratory assays and sex-specific reference intervals, clinical diagnostic specificity has considerably improved.

Medullary thyroid cancer with ectopic Cushing's syndrome: A multicentre case series.

Objective: Ectopic Cushing's syndrome (ECS) induced by medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is rare, and data on clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome are limited.

Design: Retrospective cohort study in three German and one Swiss referral centres.

Patients: Eleven patients with MTC and occurrence of ECS and 22 matched MTC patients without ECS were included.

[Autoimmune thyroid disease].

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is not only one of the most prevalent human autoimmune diseases, but also the most frequent cause of primary hypothyroidism. It is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid gland with subsequent gradual destruction and fibrous replacement of thyroid tissue. Genetic predisposition, epigenetic modifications and environmental factors are suspected as disease triggers.

FGF-Receptors and PD-L1 in Anaplastic and Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Evaluation of the Preclinical Rationale.

Background: Treatment options for poorly differentiated (PDTC) and anaplastic (ATC) thyroid carcinoma are unsatisfactory and prognosis is generally poor. Lenvatinib (LEN), a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) 1-4 is approved for advanced radioiodine refractory thyroid carcinoma, but response to single agent is poor in ATC. Recent reports of combining LEN with PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (PEM) are promising.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Radioiodine Refractory Thyroid Cancer.

The management of patients with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that is refractory to radioiodine (RAI) remains a therapeutic challenge. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sorafenib and lenvatinib have been approved based on phase 3 clinical trials. We aimed at describing the efficacy and safety of TKI treatment of RAI-refractory DTC in a real-world setting at six German referral centers.

An unusual case of struma ovarii.

Summary: Struma ovarii is a teratoma of the ovaries predominantly composed of thyroid tissue. Hyperthyroidism associated with struma ovarii is rare, occurring in approximately 8% of cases. Due to the rarity of struma ovarii, available data are limited to case reports and small case series.

F-FDG-PET/CT in Patients with Advanced, Radioiodine Refractory Thyroid Cancer Treated with Lenvatinib.

Background: The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Lenvatinib represents one of the most effective therapeutic options in patients with advanced radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We aimed to assess the role of 2-deoxy-2-[F] fluoro-D-glucose positron-emission-tomography/computed-tomography (F-FDG-PET/CT) in the monitoring of functional tumor response compared to morphological response.

Methods: In 22 patients, a modified Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria In Solid Tumors (mPERCIST) evaluation before treatment with Lenvatinib and at 3 and 6 month follow up was performed.

Radiation to the Primary Tumor in Metastatic Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.

Background/aim: Metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer is associated with a dismal prognosis. We evaluated outcome and prognostic factors in patients receiving radiation to the primary tumor in metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

Patients And Methods: All consecutive patients with metastatic ATC (n=20) undergoing irradiation between 2009 and 2019 for anaplastic thyroid cancer were investigated.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is associated with a poor prognosis due to aggressive tumor growth and high treatment resistance. Hypofractionated treatment concepts may be more effective and less time consuming compared to normofractionated radiotherapy (RT). In this retrospective study, we aim to evaluate the outcome of hypofractionated regimens and perform a systematic review concerning hypofractionated RT and pooled analysis of this treatment modality.

Real-World Efficacy and Safety of Cabozantinib and Vandetanib in Advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

Management of patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) remains a therapeutic challenge. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) vandetanib and cabozantinib have been approved for the treatment of progressive MTC based on prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) in phase 3 clinical trials. To evaluate clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, efficacy, and treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of vandetanib and cabozantinib in MTC patients outside clinical trials at four German tertiary care centers.

[The Thyroid and Pregnancy].

Pregnancy has a profound impact on the thyroid gland and its function. This has to be considered in the assessment of thyroid function tests on the basis of trimester-specific reference intervals during pregnancy and in the decision making when to start therapy.The adverse impact of overt thyroid disorders in pregnancy is well understood, while the relevance of subclinical thyroid disorders and presence of thyroid antibodies remains a bit controversial.

Vitamin D Status and Thyroid Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Thyroiditis.

A lack of vitamin D seems to be related to autoimmune diseases including autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). This study intends to determine the correlation between improvement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels and AIT in patients from an outpatient endocrine clinic in Frankfurt, Germany. This study included 933 patients with thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO-Ab) ≥34 kIU/l, including most patients with clear AIT due to a concurrent sonographic evidence of reduced echogenicity.

Fake news? Biotin interference in thyroid immunoassays.

We report on a 47 year old male patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) presenting in our outpatient neurology clinic in Frankfurt/Main for therapy evaluation. Before change of treatment laboratory investigations were performed. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) with a streptavidin/biotin based immunoassay revealed severe hyperthyroidism with positive thyroid autoantibodies suggestive for Graves' disease.

Novel Germline p.Gly42Val Mutation in a Family with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 - Excellent Response of Prolactinoma to Cabergoline.

We report on a 27-year-old male patient presenting with renal colic secondary to hyperparathyroidism. Further investigations confirmed a diagnosis of type 1 multiple endocrine neoplasia and revealed a 2.0 cm pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour as well as a pituitary macroadenoma with significantly elevated prolactin levels.