Most thyroid cancers are found early and cured with surgery. Research is mostly about doing less for low-risk cancers, and finding better drugs for the few that spread and stop responding to radioactive iodine.
- 86studies open or running
- 11of them in phase 3
- 3,411papers published this year
- 40NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Many can skip radioactive iodineHappened 97.9% vs 96.3% cancer-free at 5 years
In a UK trial, people with low-risk cancer who had surgery alone did as well as those who also had radioactive iodine.
97.9% vs 96.3%: free of cancer at 5 years, no radioactive iodine vs radioactive iodine.
Targeted pills for iodine-resistant cancerHappened 9.2 vs 1.9 months before growth
Cabozantinib slows cancer that has grown on first-line drugs. Selpercatinib received full FDA approval in 2026 for RET-fusion cancers, including thyroid.
9.2 vs 1.9: months before papillary cancer grew, cabozantinib vs placebo.
GLP-1 drugs and thyroid cancerHappened 1 in 1,349 extra cases over 5 years
Drug-trial data show a small possible rise in risk; a large six-country study found none over about two to three years.
1 in 1,349: extra thyroid cancer over 5 years for each person treated, in drug trials.
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6 months
by May 2027
Is preventive neck surgery needed?Possible
A French trial of 352 people tests whether removing nearby lymph nodes during thyroid surgery changes outcomes. It is fully enrolled and due December 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
A new targeted pill reportsPossible
AL2846 against placebo in 144 people with iodine-resistant cancer, due January 2027.
Combination for RAS-driven cancersLong shot
Avutometinib with defactinib, a two-pill combination, in 30 people at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
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3 years
by late 2029
Antibody-drug conjugates tested in thyroid cancerLong shot
Sacituzumab govitecan, used in breast cancer, is in a 42-person trial finishing in late 2027.
Less radioactive iodine becomes standardPossible 97.9% vs 96.3% cancer-free at 5 years
Guidelines move further toward surgery alone for low-risk cancer, based on two randomized trials.
97.9% vs 96.3%: free of cancer at 5 years, no radioactive iodine vs radioactive iodine.
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5 years
by late 2031
BRAF drugs vs cabozantinib head to headPossible
A 264-person US trial compares dabrafenib plus trametinib with cabozantinib for BRAF-mutated, iodine-resistant cancer. It finishes in 2030.
Making tumors take up iodine againLong shot
Small trials give a targeted pill first so resistant tumors absorb radioactive iodine again.
Iodine guided by response, not routinePossible
A French trial of 368 people with intermediate-risk cancer tests deciding on radioactive iodine case by case. It finishes in 2031.
The research paths
Doing less for low-risk cancer
97.9% vs 96.3% cancer-free at 5 yearsDetails and 3 trialsHide
Two randomized trials now show many people can skip radioactive iodine after surgery. Next questions are lymph node surgery and intermediate-risk cancers.
WatchThe ESTIMABL3 result on preventive neck surgery.
Targeted pills for advanced cancer
9.2 vs 1.9 months before growthDetails and 3 trialsHide
Several pills slow advanced cancer. Gene-matched drugs are moving earlier, and new ones are in trials.
WatchDabrafenib plus trametinib against cabozantinib.
Re-opening the door to iodine
Details and 2 trialsHide
A short course of a gene-matched pill can make some resistant tumors take up radioactive iodine again, so it can work a second time.
WatchResults in children and young adults with RET or NTRK changes.
GLP-1 medicines and thyroid risk
1 in 1,349 extra cases over 5 yearsDetailsHide
With millions now on weight-loss drugs, researchers are checking whether they raise thyroid cancer risk. Evidence so far points to small or no risk.
WatchStudies with longer follow-up.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Lung cancer
Selpercatinib
Approved
A RET-blocking pill first approved for lung cancer, now used for RET-driven thyroid cancers.
From Breast cancer
Sacituzumab govitecan
Phase 2
An antibody that carries chemotherapy into tumor cells, tested in iodine-resistant thyroid cancer.
From Any-cancer NTRK approval
Larotrectinib
Phase 2
Approved for tumors with an NTRK gene fusion in any organ; here used to restore iodine uptake.
Open to join now
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BRAF-mutated, iodine-resistant
Dabrafenib-trametinib vs cabozantinib
Locations and eligibility → -
Iodine-resistant cancer, China
AL2846 vs placebo
Locations and eligibility → -
Intermediate-risk, France
Radioactive iodine case by case
Locations and eligibility → -
Iodine-resistant cancer, Spain
Sacituzumab govitecan
Locations and eligibility → -
RAS-driven advanced cancer
Avutometinib and defactinib
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting thyroid cancer trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Detection Using AI on ultrasound to tell low-risk from high-risk thyroid nodulesDuke University · NIH Funded through Aug 2029 News likely 2028–2029
- Care Better treatment strategies for anaplastic thyroid cancerMD Anderson · NIH Funded through Aug 2031 News likely 2029–2031
What just happened
Selpercatinib gets full approval for RET-fusion cancers
Includes RET-fusion thyroid cancer.
Surgery alone as good as adding radioactive iodine
IoN: 97.9% vs 96.3% cancer-free at 5 years.
No rise in thyroid cancer with GLP-1 drugs in six countries
About 98,000 people followed 2 to 3 years.
Standard treatment today
- Small, low-risk cancerSurgery to remove part or all of the thyroid. For very small papillary cancers, active surveillance is an option at some centers.
- After surgeryRadioactive iodine for higher-risk cancers; often skipped for low-risk ones. Thyroid hormone pills for life after a total thyroidectomy.
- Spread, iodine no longer worksLenvatinib or sorafenib first; cabozantinib after. Gene-matched drugs for BRAF, RET or NTRK changes.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Most thyroid cancer trials are small, because the common forms are usually cured.
- The GLP-1 findings come from short follow-up and conflict; neither study proves cause.
- Completion dates are what each trial registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See thyroid cancer trials recruiting now →