Most thyroid cancers respond well to the standard treatments. However, a small number of thyroid cancers are more difficult to treat, so new treatments are being investigated.
Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. In Australia, clinical trials are currently testing whether immunotherapy works for anaplastic thyroid cancer.
For advanced medullary thyroid cancer, a type of radioactive nuclear medicine known as radiopeptide therapy may be available through clinical trials. This is also known as peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). PRRT involves an injection of a protein (peptide) that has been combined with a small amount of radioactive substance (radionuclide). This mixture targets cancer cells and delivers a high dose of radiation that kills or damages them.
Talk to your specialist to find out more about immunotherapy or radionuclide therapy and how to join clinical trials.
→ READ MORE: Life after treatment for thyroid cancer
Podcast: New Treatments – Immunotherapy & Targeted Therapy
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
A/Prof Diana Learoyd, Endocrinologist, GenesisCare North Shore, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW; Emeritus Professor Leigh Delbridge AM, The University of Sydney, Thyroid Surgeon, The Mater and North Shore Private Hospitals, NSW; Prof Ruta Gupta, Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and The University of Sydney, NSW; Susan Leonard, Cancer Nurse Coordinator Thyroid and Brachytherapy, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Dean Lisewski, Endocrine and General Surgeon, Fiona Stanley Hospital and St John of God Hospital, Murdoch, WA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Jonathan Park, Consumer; A/Prof David Pattison, Deputy Director and Senior Staff Specialist, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Specialised PET Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and School of Medicine, University of Queensland, QLD; Prof Bruce Robinson, Endocrinologist, Co-Head, Cancer Genetics, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney and Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Marissa Ryan, Team Leader (Cancer) Pharmacist, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
Need to talk?
Support services
Cancer Connect
Talk to someone who has experienced cancer
Work and cancer
Information for employees, employers and workplaces dealing with cancer
Cancer information
Chemotherapy common questions
Addresses chemotherapy concerns such as pain, time and pregnancy
Patient rights and responsibilities
What you can reasonably expect from your health care professionals