Sarcopenia may Influence the Prognosis in Advanced Thyroid Cancer Patients Treated With Molecular Targeted Therapy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Reportedly, sarcopenia and nutritional status are associated with prognosis in cancer patients. However, data regarding the relationship of these factors with advanced thyroid cancer patients receiving molecular targeted therapy remains scarce. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between nutritional assessment, as well as sarcopenia, and prognosis in patients with advanced thyroid cancer undergoing molecular targeted therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, sarcopenia and several markers of nutritional status were assessed in advanced thyroid cancer patients at the Kanazawa University Hospital, before the introduction of molecular targeted therapy. RESULTS: Advanced thyroid cancer patients with sarcopenia presented a worse prognosis than those without sarcopenia. Additionally, sarcopenia strongly correlated with several markers of nutritional status, such as albumin, prognostic nutrition index, and Glasgow prognostic score. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia could be a prognostic factor in patients with advanced thyroid cancer receiving molecular targeted therapy.

Clinical Characteristics Associated With Lenvatinib-induced Fistula and Tumor-related Bleeding in Patients With Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Lenvatinib has become an important treatment option for advanced thyroid cancer. Fistula and tumor-related bleeding are life-threatening adverse effects that are triggered by tumor shrinkage. The aim of this study was to evaluate basic parameters, such as time and tumor shrinkage level, and analyze patient characteristics that might be related to onset of complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 16 patients who received lenvatinib for thyroid cancer treatment was performed. RESULTS: Fistula was observed in two patients (12.5%), while tumor-related bleeding was observed in one (6.3%). Complications were found to appear at 10.4 weeks from initiation and with tumor decrease of 19.2%. Risk factors for complications were identified as anaplastic histological type, tumor invasion, and leukocytopenia induced by lenvatinib. CONCLUSION: Individual dose adjustment is needed with respect to these features in order to manage severe adverse effects induced by lenvatinib.