Cure Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma International (iCureASPS)

The clinical implications of sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism: a prospective evaluation

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18665181

Sunitinib is approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant or -intolerant gastrointestinal
stromal tumours (GIST). Several studies have identified unexpected rates of thyroid dysfunction with sunitinib treatment. We
performed a prospective observational study with the aim of more accurately defining the incidence and severity of hypothyroidism in
RCC or GIST patients receiving sunitinib. Thyroid function was assessed at baseline and on days 1 and 28 of each treatment cycle.
Thyroid antibodies were assessed at baseline and during follow-up if abnormal thyroid function tests were recorded. Sixteen patients
(27%) developed sub- or clinical hypothyroidism and required hormone replacement and 20 patients (34%) showed at least one
elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone not requiring therapeutic intervention. Twenty patients (34%) did not develop any biochemical
thyroid abnormality. Thus, sunitinib can induce (sub-) clinical hypothyroidism, warranting close monitoring of thyroid function.
We propose a new algorithm for managing this side effect in clinical practise.

There is a full text article that is helpful to read for the people on the clinical trials or treatments with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib, sunitinib, cediranib etc.):

Hypothyroidism related to tyrosine kinase inhibitors: an emerging toxic effect of targeted therapy
http://www.nature.com/nrclinonc/journal ... 009.4.html