7. Vandetanib: The Trailblazer of Targeted Therapies
Vandetanib was one of the first targeted therapies approved for use in thyroid cancer, specifically for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). As a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, it targets proteins involved in cancer cell growth and angiogenesis, disrupting their ability to proliferate.
Vandetanib has shown significant benefits in improving progression-free survival in patients with MTC, particularly for those with advanced disease or those unsuitable for surgery. Its approval marked a critical milestone in the treatment of MTC, which had limited therapeutic options before the arrival of targeted therapies.
While Vandetanib can cause side effects such as diarrhea, rash, and QT prolongation (a heart rhythm condition), these are usually manageable with careful monitoring and dose adjustment. Its role in treating MTC, a relatively rare and hard-to-treat form of thyroid cancer, underscores its importance in the landscape of thyroid cancer medications. (7)
