National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Anaplastic thyroid cancer


Other Names:
Thyroid cancer, anaplastic; Thyroid carcinoma, anaplastic; Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Categories:
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) accounts for less than 2% of all thyroid cancers and is the most aggressive type of thyroid cancer.[1] Most cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer are diagnosed in the sixth to seventh decade of life. Women are more likely to be affected than men.[1] ATC generally occurs in individuals with a history of goiter or thyroid cancer.[1] A history of head and neck radiation or exposure to radioactive materials may also increase the risk for ATC.[2] Patients with ATC generally present with a rapidly-growing neck mass which may cause trouble swallowing (dysphagia), coughing, neck pain, and trouble breathing (dyspnea).[1] Metastasis is present in more than half of individuals at the time of diagnosis. Patients with metastases may also present with bone pain, lymph node enlargement, weakness, and neurological deficits.[1] Treatment of ATC is mostly palliative.[1]
Last updated: 7/1/2015
Treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer is mostly palliative. In some cases, surgery with radiation and chemotherapy may prolong survival.[3] However, this type of cancer generally cannot be cured by surgery.[4] Surgery to place a tube in the throat to help with breathing (tracheostomy) or in the stomach to help with eating (gastrostomy) may be needed during treatment.[4] For some patients, enrolling in a clinical trial may be an option.[4] There is no effective treatment for metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer.[5]
Last updated: 7/1/2015

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

  • Dabrafenib and Trametinib combination (Brand name: Tafinlar and Mekinist combination) - Manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
    FDA-approved indication: May 2018 approved combination for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) with BRAF V600E mutation and with no satisfactory locoregional treatment options.
  • Thyrotropin alpha (Brand name: Thyrogen®) - Manufactured by Genzyme Corporation
    FDA-approved indication: As an adjunctive diagnostic tool for serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing with or without radioiodine imaging in the follow-up of patients with thyroid cancer.
    National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
Due to the aggressive nature of this cancer and the lack of effective treatment options, the prognosis for individuals with ATC is often poor. The overall 5-year survival rate is reportedly less than 10% and most patients do not live longer than a few months after diagnosis.[6][7] Those with a unilateral tumor, a tumor size less than 5 cm, and no lymph node involvement or metastases generally have a better prognosis.[8] The most common site of distant metastasis is the lung, followed by the bone and brain.[8]
Last updated: 7/1/2015

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Anaplastic thyroid cancer. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Anaplastic thyroid cancer. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

  1. Anastasios K Konstantakos. Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Medscape. April 16, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/283165-overview. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  2. Thyroid cancer: Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC). The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. http://endocrinediseases.org/thyroid/cancer_anaplastic.shtml#top. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  3. Anastasios K Konstantakos. Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Medscape. April 16, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/283165-overview. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer. MedlinePlus. March 23, 2014; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000352.htm. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  5. R. Michael Tuttle and Eric J. Sherman. Anaplastic thyroid cancer. UpToDate. Jan 13, 2015; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/anaplastic-thyroid-cancer. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  6. Anastasios K Konstantakos. Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. April 16, 2015; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/283165-overview. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  7. Anaplastic thyroid cancer. MedlinePlus. March 23, 2014; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000352.htm. Accessed 7/1/2015.
  8. R. Michael Tuttle and Eric J. Sherman. Anaplastic thyroid cancer. UpToDate. Jan 13, 2015; http://www.uptodate.com/contents/anaplastic-thyroid-cancer. Accessed 7/1/2015.