open access

Vol 63, No 4 (2012)
Review paper
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2012-08-30
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Hypothyroidism during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Aneta L. Zygulska, Krzysztof Krzemieniecki, Anna Sowa-Staszczak
Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(4):302-306.

open access

Vol 63, No 4 (2012)
Review Article
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2012-08-30

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are relatively new targeted therapy drugs used for the treatment of metastatic clear cell kidney carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, thyroid carcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours during the progression of the disease. Hypothyroidism or thyroid dysfunction is often a side effect of this treatment. Therefore, monitoring of thyroid hormone levels before the beginning and during the treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is a necessity. Hypothyroidism correlates with objective response to the treatment. Sunitinib. This is the most described tyrosine kinase inhibitor which causes hypothyroidism. The mechanism of hypothyroidism is still unclear. Sorafenib. Symptoms of hypothyroidism occur in 18% of patients treated with sorafenib due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Imatinib. Hypothyroidism is one of the most frequent side effects of the treatment. Emergent tracheotomy was necessary due to larynx swelling during marked hypothyroidism. Motesanib. Hypothyroidism or increased TSH level is diagnosed in 22% to 69% of patients with metastatic differentiated or medullary thyroid carcinomas. The management of patients with thyroid dysfunction and related symptoms such as fatigue is undoubtedly a challenge to an oncologist.

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are relatively new targeted therapy drugs used for the treatment of metastatic clear cell kidney carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, thyroid carcinoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours during the progression of the disease. Hypothyroidism or thyroid dysfunction is often a side effect of this treatment. Therefore, monitoring of thyroid hormone levels before the beginning and during the treatment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is a necessity. Hypothyroidism correlates with objective response to the treatment. Sunitinib. This is the most described tyrosine kinase inhibitor which causes hypothyroidism. The mechanism of hypothyroidism is still unclear. Sorafenib. Symptoms of hypothyroidism occur in 18% of patients treated with sorafenib due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Imatinib. Hypothyroidism is one of the most frequent side effects of the treatment. Emergent tracheotomy was necessary due to larynx swelling during marked hypothyroidism. Motesanib. Hypothyroidism or increased TSH level is diagnosed in 22% to 69% of patients with metastatic differentiated or medullary thyroid carcinomas. The management of patients with thyroid dysfunction and related symptoms such as fatigue is undoubtedly a challenge to an oncologist.
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Keywords

hypothyroidism; tyrosine kinase inhibitors

About this article
Title

Hypothyroidism during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 63, No 4 (2012)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

302-306

Published online

2012-08-30

Page views

824

Article views/downloads

2397

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2012;63(4):302-306.

Keywords

hypothyroidism
tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Authors

Aneta L. Zygulska
Krzysztof Krzemieniecki
Anna Sowa-Staszczak

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