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News
Targeted therapy is transforming medullary thyroid cancer care. A new review in The Oncologist confirms that selective RET inhibitors — particularly selpercatinib — outperform older multikinase inhibitors in both efficacy and tolerability for RET-mutant advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Emerging therapies like next-gen RET inhibitors and radioligand therapy are also showing early promise for tackling treatment resistance.
Targeted therapy is transforming medullary thyroid cancer care. A review published in The Oncologist highlights how selective RET inhibitors have shifted the treatment landscape for advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), offering superior efficacy and a more manageable side effect profile compared to earlier multikinase inhibitors like vandetanib and cabozantinib.
Selpercatinib leads the charge, demonstrating impressive response rates and durability in clinical trials. In the phase 3 LIBRETTO-531 trial, it cut the risk of progression or death by 72% versus cabozantinib or vandetanib, with a 69% objective response rate compared to 39% — and far fewer patients stopping treatment due to side effects (4.7% vs. 26.8%). The review recommends selpercatinib as the preferred first-line therapy for RET-mutant advanced MTC, with molecular profiling guiding all treatment decisions.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Resistance mutations and limited options after progression remain real challenges in MTC. Next-generation RET inhibitors and radioligand therapy are showing early promise, offering hope for patients who develop resistance — and underscoring the importance of repeat biopsy to guide therapy after disease progression.
