Commentary
Targeting B-Raf kinase for thyroid cancer treatment: promise and challenge
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy (1). The incidence of thyroid cancer has been steadily increasing in the past four decades, primarily due to the use of more sensitive diagnostic tools. Other factors such as increased obesity rates may play a role (2-4).
Approximately 64,300 patients were newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the United States of America in 2015 but only 1,980 deaths were reported. Thyroid cancers are divided into several pathological categories, including well differentiated papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), Hürthle cell carcinomas (HTC), and poorly differentiated or anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATC).
Approximately 64,300 patients were newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the United States of America in 2015 but only 1,980 deaths were reported. Thyroid cancers are divided into several pathological categories, including well differentiated papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC), follicular thyroid carcinomas (FTC), medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC), Hürthle cell carcinomas (HTC), and poorly differentiated or anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATC).
