Chemotherapy and multimodality treatment in thyroid carcinoma.

With the combination of pre- and postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the majority of patients with anaplastic giant cell thyroid carcinoma will achieve local tumor control. A few patients may even be cured by this treatment. Only few patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma respond to chemotherapy treatment. However, at present it is not possible to discern these few. Chemotherapy for advanced thyroid carcinoma cannot as yet be routinely recommended. Doxorubicin, cisplatin, and VP16 are the drugs currently considered most effective. Side effects may be severe. Multimodality treatment may be an alternative.