Authors' recommendations: There are four different types of thyroid cancer, and the most common is known as differentiated thyroid cancer. It is a type of cancer which usually develops very slowly, and can often be cured by surgery. However, in a small number of patients the cancer then returns and becomes difficult to treat. Radioactive iodine therapy is often used after surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer returning. Selumetinib is a new drug for the treatment of thyroid cancer given as a tablet twice a day. Some studies have suggested selumetinib may be helpful for patients who are at high risk of the cancer returning after surgery. More studies are now aiming to show how it may work best in combination with radioactive iodine therapy, which is currently used. If selumetinib is licensed for use in the UK, it could be a new treatment option for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer that may reduce symptoms of the disease and increase survival.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/selumetinib-with-radioactive-iodine-therapy-for-differentiated-thyroid-cancer-first-line/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)