Thyroid cancer affects around 4,800 people in the UK each year. While most differentiated thyroid cancers are highly treatable with surgery and radioactive iodine, a significant subset — including medullary, anaplastic, and RAI-refractory cancers — require advanced systemic therapies. UK trial centres are leading research into targeted therapies for RET and BRAF mutations, next-generation kinase inhibitors, and immunotherapy for aggressive subtypes.
Thyroid cancer research in the UK is led by centres including the Royal Marsden, the Christie, and major university hospitals in London, Birmingham, and Glasgow. The NCRI Thyroid Cancer Clinical Studies Group coordinates national trials. NICE has approved lenvatinib, sorafenib, cabozantinib, and selpercatinib for advanced thyroid cancer.
There are currently over 30 actively recruiting thyroid cancer trials in the UK, spanning differentiated, medullary, and anaplastic subtypes.
Types of Thyroid Cancer Trials
Targeted Therapy
RET inhibitors (selpercatinib, pralsetinib), BRAF inhibitors, NTRK inhibitors, and next-gen multi-kinase inhibitors for mutation-driven treatment.
Immunotherapy
Anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors for anaplastic and RAI-refractory thyroid cancer, alone and in combination with targeted agents.
RAI-Enhancement
Trials to restore radioactive iodine sensitivity in RAI-refractory tumours using MEK inhibitors, BRAF inhibitors, or redifferentiation therapy.
Surgery & Ablation
Minimally invasive surgical techniques, robotic thyroidectomy, and novel ablation approaches for low-risk disease.
Targeted Therapy for Thyroid Cancer
RET inhibitors — selpercatinib (Retsevmo) and pralsetinib are approved for RET-mutant medullary and papillary thyroid cancer. UK trials testing: adjuvant use after surgery, combination with immunotherapy, and resistance mechanisms
BRAF V600E inhibitors — dabrafenib + trametinib approved for BRAF-mutant anaplastic thyroid cancer. UK trials exploring: neoadjuvant use before surgery, combination with anti-PD-1, and redifferentiation to restore RAI uptake
Multi-kinase inhibitors — lenvatinib and sorafenib for RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. Newer agents like cabozantinib targeting VEGFR/MET/RET in UK Phase 2/3 trials
NTRK inhibitors — larotrectinib and entrectinib for NTRK fusion-positive thyroid cancers (tumour-agnostic approval). Rare but highly effective when the biomarker is present
Next-generation TKIs — more selective kinase inhibitors with fewer side effects, in UK early-phase trials for progressive differentiated thyroid cancer
Medullary Thyroid Cancer (MTC) Research
RET-directed therapy — selpercatinib and pralsetinib have transformed MTC treatment. UK trials testing first-line use vs surgery alone, adjuvant therapy for high-risk patients, and treatment of hereditary MTC (MEN2 syndrome)
Immunotherapy for MTC — checkpoint inhibitor trials for progressive or advanced MTC, particularly in patients who have progressed on RET inhibitors
Calcitonin-guided treatment — using serial calcitonin and CEA levels to guide treatment decisions, with UK trials testing biomarker-driven treatment initiation and stopping rules
Prophylactic thyroidectomy — genetic counselling and timing of prophylactic surgery for MEN2 carriers, with UK natural history studies informing guidelines
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Trials
BRAF + MEK + immunotherapy — the combination of dabrafenib + trametinib + pembrolizumab for BRAF V600E anaplastic thyroid cancer is being studied in UK trials. This triple approach targets the tumour from multiple angles
Anti-PD-1 monotherapy — pembrolizumab and nivolumab trials for anaplastic thyroid cancer regardless of BRAF status, leveraging the high mutational burden of these aggressive tumours
Novel combinations — anti-angiogenic agents combined with immunotherapy, exploiting the highly vascular nature of anaplastic thyroid cancer
Supportive care — trials addressing quality of life, pain management, and palliative approaches for this aggressive cancer
Who Can Participate?
Differentiated thyroid cancer trials — RAI-refractory papillary or follicular thyroid cancer with progressive disease, measurable disease on imaging, adequate organ function
Medullary thyroid cancer trials — confirmed MTC with elevated calcitonin, progressive disease, RET mutation status known (for RET inhibitor trials)
Anaplastic thyroid cancer trials — newly diagnosed or progressive anaplastic thyroid cancer, ECOG 0-2, BRAF V600E status known (for BRAF-directed trials)
General criteria — adequate bone marrow, liver, and kidney function, no untreated brain metastases, no recent major surgery
UK Thyroid Cancer Trial Locations
London — Royal Marsden Hospital, UCLH, Imperial College Healthcare, Guy's and St Thomas'
Manchester — The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Birmingham — Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Glasgow — Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre
Cambridge — Addenbrooke's Hospital
Newcastle — Northern Centre for Cancer Care
💡 Tip: Know Your Mutation Status
All advanced thyroid cancer patients should have RET, BRAF, and NTRK testing at diagnosis. These molecular results determine which targeted therapy trials you can access. Medullary thyroid cancer patients should also have RET germline testing to assess for MEN2 syndrome. Keep copies of your molecular pathology reports.
How to Find Your Match
Use our Smart Matcher to find thyroid cancer trials tailored to your specific situation. Whether you are newly diagnosed, exploring targeted therapy, or seeking advanced treatment options, we can match you to actively recruiting studies.