Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer

Objective: Treatment for distant metastases (DM) of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) aims to improve the prognosis and quality of life (QOL). Radioactive iodine and molecular targeted therapies are the primary systemic treatments for DM. Combining these with local treatments, such as surgery and...

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Main Authors: Sueyoshi Moritani, Masao Takenobu, Masakazu Yasunaga, Taihei Fujii, Hiroya Kitano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bioscientifica 2025-06-01
Series:European Thyroid Journal
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Online Access:https://etj.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/etj/14/3/ETJ-24-0237.xml
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author Sueyoshi Moritani
Masao Takenobu
Masakazu Yasunaga
Taihei Fujii
Hiroya Kitano
author_facet Sueyoshi Moritani
Masao Takenobu
Masakazu Yasunaga
Taihei Fujii
Hiroya Kitano
author_sort Sueyoshi Moritani
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Treatment for distant metastases (DM) of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) aims to improve the prognosis and quality of life (QOL). Radioactive iodine and molecular targeted therapies are the primary systemic treatments for DM. Combining these with local treatments, such as surgery and radiotherapy targeting metastatic sites, may provide additional benefits to systemic therapy. Methods: This study reviewed the additional effects of local therapies on common metastatic sites of DTC, such as pulmonary or bone metastases (BM), the efficacy of bone-modifying agents (BMAs) for BM, and the therapeutic effects of local treatments for less common brain metastases. Results: Although based on retrospective studies with no definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of each treatment, local therapy for DM in DTC patients has been shown to enhance prognosis and QOL in several studies. Considering the results of clinical trials for metastatic tumors, local therapy for one or a few pulmonary or BM in DTC should be considered, if expected to improve prognosis and QOL. Surgical intervention is recommended for spinal metastases presenting with spinal compression symptoms or for long BM in extremities at risk of pathological or impending fractures. BMAs are also recommended to reduce the risk of skeletal-related events. Surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, and whole-brain radiotherapy are suggested for brain metastases to improve the prognosis and QOL. Conclusion: Incorporating local therapy alongside systemic treatment can enhance the prognosis and QOL and should be considered a viable treatment option.
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spelling doaj-art-5c65d5f6026d40a18dc8cb9f24d476f72025-08-20T02:39:29ZengBioscientificaEuropean Thyroid Journal2235-08022025-06-0114310.1530/ETJ-24-02371Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancerSueyoshi Moritani0Masao Takenobu1Masakazu Yasunaga2Taihei Fujii3Hiroya Kitano4Omi Medical Center, Center for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Thyroid Surgery, Kusatsu, Shiga, JapanOmi Medical Center, Center for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Thyroid Surgery, Kusatsu, Shiga, JapanOmi Medical Center, Center for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Thyroid Surgery, Kusatsu, Shiga, JapanOmi Medical Center, Center for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Thyroid Surgery, Kusatsu, Shiga, JapanOmi Medical Center, Center for Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Thyroid Surgery, Kusatsu, Shiga, JapanObjective: Treatment for distant metastases (DM) of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) aims to improve the prognosis and quality of life (QOL). Radioactive iodine and molecular targeted therapies are the primary systemic treatments for DM. Combining these with local treatments, such as surgery and radiotherapy targeting metastatic sites, may provide additional benefits to systemic therapy. Methods: This study reviewed the additional effects of local therapies on common metastatic sites of DTC, such as pulmonary or bone metastases (BM), the efficacy of bone-modifying agents (BMAs) for BM, and the therapeutic effects of local treatments for less common brain metastases. Results: Although based on retrospective studies with no definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of each treatment, local therapy for DM in DTC patients has been shown to enhance prognosis and QOL in several studies. Considering the results of clinical trials for metastatic tumors, local therapy for one or a few pulmonary or BM in DTC should be considered, if expected to improve prognosis and QOL. Surgical intervention is recommended for spinal metastases presenting with spinal compression symptoms or for long BM in extremities at risk of pathological or impending fractures. BMAs are also recommended to reduce the risk of skeletal-related events. Surgery, stereotactic radiotherapy, and whole-brain radiotherapy are suggested for brain metastases to improve the prognosis and QOL. Conclusion: Incorporating local therapy alongside systemic treatment can enhance the prognosis and QOL and should be considered a viable treatment option.https://etj.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/etj/14/3/ETJ-24-0237.xmllocal therapythyroid cancer metastasesquality of lifebone-modifying agents
spellingShingle Sueyoshi Moritani
Masao Takenobu
Masakazu Yasunaga
Taihei Fujii
Hiroya Kitano
Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
European Thyroid Journal
local therapy
thyroid cancer metastases
quality of life
bone-modifying agents
title Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
title_full Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
title_fullStr Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
title_full_unstemmed Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
title_short Usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
title_sort usefulness of local therapy for distant metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer
topic local therapy
thyroid cancer metastases
quality of life
bone-modifying agents
url https://etj.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/etj/14/3/ETJ-24-0237.xml
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AT taiheifujii usefulnessoflocaltherapyfordistantmetastasesofdifferentiatedthyroidcancer
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