Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive thyroid malignancy with a median survival of approximately 5 months. The recent molecular driver leading to targeted therapy approval in ATC is:

• A RET mutation — treated with selpercatinib or pralsetinib
• B NTRK fusion — treated with larotrectinib
• C EGFR overexpression — treated with gefitinib
• D BRAF V600E mutation — treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib combination ✓

Explanation

BRAF V600E mutations are present in approximately 25–45% of anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. The FDA approved the combination of dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) plus trametinib (MEK inhibitor) for BRAF V600E-mutated ATC based on the phase II basket trial showing an overall response rate of approximately 69% in ATC. This represents the first molecularly targeted therapy specifically approved for ATC. RET mutations and NTRK fusions occur in ATC but their specific targeted therapies are approved primarily for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.