Hypothryoid state and PFS - 1248957

double trouble
Posts:573

I have read some indications that hypothyroid patients might have better response rates and longer progression free survival and overall survival rates. Has any research been done on this subject with NSCLC, and what were the conclusions?

Debra

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Reply # - October 11, 2012, 02:45 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Debra,

Here's a post Dr. Garfield wrote on that subject, citing a couple of studies which seem to support your premise, although the studies were not related to NSCLC: http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2009/09/01/thyroid-function-and-cance…

And these links discuss hypothyroidism in the context of lung cancer:

http://www.aacrmeetingabstracts.org/cgi/content/abstract/2004/1/1024-a
http://www.docguide.com/hypothyroidism-improves-prognosis-lung-cancer-p…

JimC
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Reply # - October 11, 2012, 03:15 PM

double trouble
Posts: 573

Thanks Jim, for the info, and in particular for linking me to a post that included a comment from our beloved and dearly departed NED. What a nice suit indeed!
Debra

Reply # - October 11, 2012, 03:31 PM

double trouble
Posts: 573

Ok, had to catch my breath after that brief visit with NED. The links provided are not very recent. I wonder if anyone here knows why this research does not seem to have been pursued any further?

Thanks in advance,
Debra

Reply # - October 11, 2012, 04:26 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

I don't have a good explanation. There are many potential leads to follow, and for whatever reason, there hasn't been any high profile work done on this question. I haven't heard of anything new, nor do I know of any lung cancer specialists who focus on thyroid function when they're evaluating and managing their lung cancer patients. I don't mean to say that there isn't or couldn't be something to these questions, but there are only limited fronts on which the field moves forward at a given time, and the hypothyroidism question isn't one for which there has been much momentum compared with molecular oncology and new agents. I suppose a fair bit of that is because the pharmaceutical industry is the primary engine for funding research, and there is a clearer financial incentive for doing research on new molecular targets and drugs than on modifying existing physiologic factors with readily available less expensive medications.

-Dr. West

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