Hormonal Therapy

Hormones are chemical that help the body function. The thyroid makes and releases some important hormones. Cancer and its treatment can alter or stop these hormones. Hormone therapy can help to balance the hormones. Some hormones can also help cancer grow. In this case, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) may help thyroid cancer grow. TSH is made by the pituitary gland in the brain. Medicine can help to lower TSH. Medicine may include:

• Levothyroxine—Replaces the loss of thyroid hormones. Can also lower TSH levels to decrease chance of cancer coming back. May also stop remaining cancer from growing.
• Liothyronine—Helps to replace thyroid hormones.
• Thyrotropin—Mimics the actions of TSH.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy uses medicine to attack support system of cancer cells. For example, some medicine block the growth of new blood vessels for cancer. Without blood flow cancer cells cannot grow and spread. Other medicine can block receptors that promote cancer growth and spread. Targeted therapy may be used with other treatments for advanced thyroid cancer. They are often given as pills.

Targeted therapy drugs used to treat medullary thyroid cancer include:

• Vandetanib
• Cabozantinib
• Motesanib
• Sunitinib

Targeted therapy drugs used to treat papillary and follicular thyroid cancers include sorafenib and lenvatinib.

Common side effects include:

• Skin rash, redness, or blistering on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Increased blood pressure

Vemurafenib is can treat cancer with the BRAF gene. Treatment with vemurafenib has shown promise in slowing metastatic papillary cancer growth. It may prolong life.