A major new research project that could change the way thyroid cancer is treated around the world is being funded by the Get A‑Head Charitable Trust.
The head and neck cancer charity has awarded £30,365 to the University of Birmingham’s Department of Metabolism and Systems Science.
The funding will help create a clinical database covering 1,872 patients treated over the last 20 years to see how commonly prescribed medications might have interfered with radioactive iodine therapy – a critical treatment for aggressive thyroid cancer.
Principal investigator Professor Chris McCabe said the outcome of the project could shape the way thyroid cancer is treated both at home and abroad.
He said radioiodine therapy relied on thyroid cancer cells absorbing iodine‑131, which then destroys remaining tumour tissue.
“We have very recently discovered that around 50 widely used medications appear to repress radioiodide uptake in laboratory assays. We now need to investigate whether any of these were being taken by patients at the same time as radioiodine therapy, which might have impacted their outcome.
“If a patient were, for example, taking ethinylestradiol (birth control pills), terbutaline (used for patients with asthma) or prochlorperazine (used to treat sickness) at the same time as having radioiodine therapy, our preliminary data suggest that the uptake of 131 may be significantly reduced. But we now need to test this to see if this is the case.
“The importance of this is that if a patient was on any of these medications at the time their thyroid cancer was treated with radioactive iodine in hospital, the chances of a cure may have been significantly reduced, without anyone knowing.
“By examining the anonymised data of almost 2,000 patients at the University Hospitals Birmingham to see who were taking any of these 50 medications at the time of treatment, and matching this to the success of therapy, we will be able to understand whether or not future thyroid cancer patients need to avoid these medications at the time of treatment.
“These findings have the potential to improve the outcomes for patients with thyroid cancer worldwide.”
Figures show that around a third of patients do not respond well to radioiodine therapy and up to 50% of those with metastatic disease fail to take up enough iodine to benefit – leaving them with a ten‑year survival rate of just 10%.
Tom Bromwich, Get A-Head’s chair of trustees, said the charity was delighted to fund the project.
“This is hugely important work which could have a significant impact on the way thyroid cancer is treated in the future, improving the chances of clinical success for patients all over the world.
“We wish Professor McCabe and his team every success and look forward to hearing the outcome of the project.”
The study is due to start later this year and is likely to take around 18 months to complete.
Get A-Head – one of the country’s leading head and neck cancer charities – was founded in Birmingham more than 30 years ago.
In 2024/25 it raised more than £220,000 to support its work and distributed over £194,000 in grants to accelerate research, improve treatment pathways and enhance patient support.
For more about the charity visit https://getahead.org.uk/
