Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) covers the two most common forms of thyroid cancer, papillary and follicular, both of which arise from the thyroid’s hormone-producing follicular cells. DTC accounts for over 90% of all thyroid cancers and generally carries a favourable long-term outlook, particularly when caught before the cancer has spread beyond the neck.

Medicine used to treat Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Nexavar

Sorafenib

200mg

Developed to address carcinoma growth to alleviate tumour progression.

From $5.87 / tablet View

When standard treatment is not enough

Most DTC is managed with surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid, often followed by radioiodine therapy to destroy any remaining thyroid tissue or spread. For a minority of patients, the cancer stops responding to radioiodine, called radioiodine-refractory DTC, and the disease continues to progress. In that setting, targeted oncology support treatment becomes the next step.

The kinase inhibitor sorafenib is approved for radioiodine-refractory, locally advanced or metastatic DTC. It works by blocking signals that drive tumour growth and blood vessel formation, slowing progression in cancers that have lost their sensitivity to radioiodine.

Any change in symptoms, a rapidly growing neck lump, hoarseness that persists, or difficulty swallowing, warrants prompt assessment by a specialist.