Nov 5, 2020
This podcast addresses a new
tool in the arsenal for
thyroid cancer treatment through precision medicine. It also
indicates exciting possibilities in the treatment for other forms
of
cancer. Eli Lilly has a treatment called Retevmo that has shown
remarkable success.
Listen and learn
Maura Dickler is Vice President
of Oncology, Late Phase Development, at Eli Lilly. Richard has
invited her to today's show because he is one of many who've been
diagnosed with and successfully treated for papillary thyroid
carcinoma. Maura Dickler, a medical oncologist, describes in
particular two types of thyroid cancer that their new medication
treats: advanced medullary thyroid cancer and metastatic papillary
thyroid cancer.
The medication is a selective RET kinase inhibitor.
Over-proliferation of RET in either of these cancers causes
metastases and is caused by a mutation. She gives listeners
specific ways to ask their doctor about testing for this mutation.
The most efficient way, she explains, is through next-generation
sequencing on a biopsy, or pathology sample when the thyroid is
removed, to detect this RET mutation. She adds that it can be
detected through other methods if next-generation sequencing is not
available.
This genomic sequencing would
indicate RET gene fusions in papillary thyroid cancer or RET point
mutations in medullary thyroid cancer, and this patient would be
eligible for Retevmo. Furthermore, this medication provides
exciting news for the treatment of multiple
cancers. As we better understand the drivers of cancer, she
explains, the medical community will be better able to design
medications that can shut off these proteins that are on overdrive,
causing tumors. This is why Retevmo is so successful for papillary
thyroid cancer treatment when it has metastasized, for
example.
Scientists often refer to these genomic alterations and tumors as
oncogene-addicted and these new specialized medications inhibit the
proteins that are driving these tumors. Listen in to learn an
especially hopeful story about a young man named Tanner who faced
stage 4 medullary thyroid cancer.
For more information, she
suggests talking to your doctor about Retevmo.
Available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2Os0myK