Progressive and metastatic thyroid cancer patients, who no longer respond to radioactive iodine (RAI), are currently treated with long term tyrosine kinase inhibitors to control tumor growth. The investigators will study the effect of short term oral anti-cancer drug combination, called dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (MEK inhibitor), in improving thyroid cancer RAI absorption that can potentially lead to tumor shrinkage response. To assess for suitability, participant's thyroid cancer tissue taken at the time of surgery will be tested for DNA changes, such as BRAFV600E, RAS, or MEK mutations. Based on experimental studies, the response to these medications could occur within 1 week of treatment. So in the study, the investigators will find out whether participant's cancer would respond to 1 week of treatment with these medications rather than the 1 month duration of treatment in previous re-differentiation clinical trials. After 1 week of treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib, iodine absorption I-124 PET-CT scan will predict if the cancer will respond to RAI. If iodine absorption is insufficient on the scan, treatment with dabrafenib and trametinib will be continued for a total of 4 weeks. Then iodine absorption response of participant's cancer will be assessed on I-124 PET-CT scan again. If the iodine absorption is good at 1 week or 4 weeks, the investigators will treat the participant with thyroid cancer using RAI. The 1-week treatment regime can potentially save cost, avoid drug toxicity with prolonged treatment, and prevent drug resistance that can occur with longer treatment period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
Participants will receive systemic therapy in the form of oral tablet dabrafenib 150mg twice a day \& oral tablet trametinib 2mg once a day for 1 or 4 weeks. Pre- \& post-systemic therapy assessment of tumor iodine absorption is done using I-124 PET CT scan. Participants are prepared for this scan with intramuscular injection of thyrogen 0.9mg on 2 consequent days, followed by I-124 PET-CT scan over the next 3 days for tumoral lesional dosimetry. Participants are then started on systemic therapy for 1 week, followed by I-124 PET-CT scan. If at least one tumor site can attain adequate dosimetry, RAI (I-131) treatment under thyrogen stimulation will be considered. Systemic therapy will be stopped 3 days after I-131. If after 1 week of systemic therapy, tumors do not reach dosimetry criteria, participants will be continued on systemic therapy for a total of 4 weeks duration, followed by I-124 PET-CT scan. If tumor can attain adequate dosimetry, I-131 treatment will be considered.
National University Hospital
Singapore, Singapore
RECRUITINGThe proportion of participants attaining at least one tumor lesion with lesional dosimetry of >=2000 cGy with I-131 dose of =<300 mCi.
The primary endpoint can be considered attained in both groups of participants: * those that attain target lesional dosimetry after 1 week of therapy * those that attain target lesional dosimetry after 4 weeks of therapy
Time frame: 1 month after start of dabrafenib and trametinib
Progression-free survival and overall survival
Time frame: From the start of assessment until study completion, an average of 2 years
Best tumor response as assessed by RECIST criteria
Time frame: From the start of assessment until study completion, an average of 2 years
Change in serum thyroglobulin level after radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment compared to baseline, pre-treatment level
Time frame: 6 months after RAI treatment
The proportion of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Time frame: From the start of assessment until study completion, an average of 2 years
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