Ongoing Clinical Trials for Follicular Thyroid Cancer
There is currently 1 ongoing clinical trial for follicular thyroid cancer. This trial is being conducted in France and focuses on comparing two different treatment strategies using radioactive iodine in patients with intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer after surgery.
Clinical trial locations
Study Comparing Two Treatment Strategies for Intermediate-Risk Thyroid Cancer Using Sodium Iodide (131I) in Patients with Post-Surgery Evaluation
This clinical trial is designed for patients with intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer, including follicular thyroid cancer. The study compares two different approaches to using radioactive iodine treatment after surgery to remove the thyroid gland.
Who can participate:
- Adults 18 years or older with intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer, including follicular thyroid cancer with less than 4 areas of blood vessel invasion
- Patients who have had complete removal of the thyroid gland 6 to 14 weeks before joining the study
- Those with a normal neck ultrasound after surgery, or if unclear, negative test results and normal thyroglobulin levels
- Patients who are fully active or have some symptoms but can do light work
- Those who have been taking thyroid hormone replacement for at least 6 weeks
- Patients willing to be monitored annually for 5 years and enrolled in the French social security system
Who cannot participate:
- Patients who do not have intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer
- Those outside the specified age range
- Individuals considered part of a vulnerable population who may need special protection
What the trial studies:
The trial aims to determine whether a personalized approach to radioactive iodine treatment works as well as the standard routine approach. Participants are randomly divided into two groups. One group receives radioactive iodine treatment automatically, while the other group only receives it if post-surgery tests indicate it is needed. These tests include measuring a protein called thyroglobulin in the blood and performing special imaging to check for remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells.
The study follows patients for several years, checking their response to treatment at 1, 3, and 5 years after starting. It also evaluates quality of life, anxiety levels, fear of cancer returning, and any side effects affecting the tear ducts, nose, and salivary glands. The goal is to see if the personalized approach can provide similar or better results while potentially avoiding unnecessary treatment in some patients.
Investigational treatment:
The treatment being studied is radioactive iodine therapy, also known as radioiodine or RAI. This therapy uses a substance called sodium iodide containing radioactive iodine (131I), which is given as oral capsules. The radioactive iodine is absorbed by thyroid cells, where it releases radiation that destroys any remaining thyroid tissue or cancer cells after surgery. The dose ranges from 37 to 5550 MBq depending on individual patient needs.
Summary
Currently, there is one active clinical trial available for patients with follicular thyroid cancer, being conducted in France. This trial focuses specifically on intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer, which includes follicular thyroid cancer with limited blood vessel invasion. The study represents an important effort to personalize treatment approaches by comparing routine radioactive iodine therapy with a strategy guided by individual post-surgery test results. This research may help doctors better determine which patients truly need radioactive iodine treatment and which patients might safely avoid it, potentially reducing unnecessary treatment and side effects while maintaining effective cancer care.