Retinoic Acid Redifferentiation Therapy for Papillary Carcinoma of Thyroid with Negative Radioiodine Uptake

방사성옥소 섭취를 보이지 않은 갑상선 유두암에서 Retinoic acid 치료

Surgery, radioiodine therapy, and thyroxine treatment represent established therapeutic measures of proven efficacy for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. However, in some cases, dedifferentiation is noted and it makes tumors refractory to conventional treatment. Recently, retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy was evaluated in several in vitro and in vivo studios. We report a patient with papillary carcinoma in whom metastatic lesions became radioiodine negative on high-dose therapy. Redifferentiation therapy with retinoic acid induced radioiodine uptake in some of metastatic tissues. Side effects such as xerostomia and cheilosis were mild. We recommend retinoic acid redifferentiation therapy as an option for the treatment of thyroid cancer with negative radioiodine uptake after high-dose radioiodine therapy.