Prognostic factors for survival in patients treated with multimodal therapy for anaplastic thyroid cancer

Background/Aim: To identify predictors of survival after multimodal treatment including surgery plus postoperative radio(chemo)therapy) for anaplastic thyroid cancer. Patients and Methods: Nine potential factors were evaluated in nine patients regarding survival after 6, 12 and 24 months. These factors were age, gender, Karnofsky performance score, tumour stage, nodal stage, resection margin status, radiation dose, concurrent chemotherapy administered with irradiation and symptom control at the end of radiotherapy. Results: Survival rates were 67% at 6 months, 56% at 12 months and 22% at 24 months. On univariate survival analysis, concurrent radiochemotherapy (p=0.018) and controlled symptoms at the end of radiotherapy (p=0.03) were associated with improved survival. A trend for better survival was seen in patients with microscopically (R1) versus macroscopically (R2) residual disease (p=0.058). Conclusion: Prognostic factors for survival after multimodal treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer were identified. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy resulted in significantly better survival and should be recommended.