From the NePenThe study, a game-changer in treating high-risk thyroid cancer with pre-surgical immunotherapy
High-risk thyroid cancer and the need for innovation
Thyroid carcinoma accounts for around 4% of all cancers in Italy, with 11,378 new cases estimated in 2024, mainly among women. For women under 49, it’s the second most common tumor after breast cancer. Thanks to effective treatment, the 10-year survival rate in well-differentiated forms exceeds 90%—but not all patients respond equally well.
When cancer hides behind a nodule
Often asymptomatic, thyroid cancer may present as a persistent nodule at the base of the neck. Early specialist evaluation—via hormonal blood tests (FT3, FT4, TSH) and ultrasound or biopsy—can be lifesaving. In rare cases, the cancer can invade adjacent tissues, requiring complex surgical and therapeutic planning.
From the scalpel to the immune system
The most frequent form, differentiated thyroid carcinoma, is typically treated with thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. Yet, up to 15% of cases are radioiodine-resistant. Enter immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to identify and attack tumor cells, and is now being explored in earlier stages.
The NePenThe study: shifting treatment timing
In recognition of World Thyroid Day (May 25), the NePenThe study—led by IRCCS Maugeri of Pavia and four major Italian cancer centers—is exploring the use of pre-surgical immunotherapy in 25 patients. Twenty will receive the experimental treatment prior to surgery, while five will follow standard procedures.
Awakening the immune response
“Cancer grows when the immune system fails to detect danger,” explains Prof. Laura Locati. This study aims to reverse the tumor’s immunosuppressive nature by intervening before surgery. It also investigates whether radiomics via MRI can help predict treatment success, adding a personalized medicine layer to the fight.
Thanks to neoadjuvant immunotherapy, high-risk thyroid cancer may finally have a new, effective treatment path. Science once again lights the way, offering renewed hope to patients.
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