Fighting One of the Deadliest Cancers: Advancing Research on Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Carmelo Nucera, MD, PhD, has been funded as one of only 12 awardees across the U.S., including the Greater Boston area, for the highly competitive Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) Impact Award, which received hundreds of applications. The award addresses prevention (mechanisms), therapeutics, and gaps in treatment in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), a highly aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer. Funding will begin in 2025.

Dr. Nucera is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and faculty at the Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is leading a cutting-edge research team dedicated to developing innovative experimental models to better understand and treat thyroid cancers.

Because of the rapid progression of the disease, traditional treatments for ATC are not effective resulting in a very low patient survival. In addition, drug resistance is a major limitation, potentially linked to loss of immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment.

The BRAFV600E mutation is frequent in more than 40% of ATC clinical cases and plays a major role. Dr. Nucera’s research proposal outlines a compelling and paradigm-shifting approach to understanding the complex immune microenvironment landscape of ATC, particularly with regard to the BRAFV600E mutation and its implications for immune suppression involving non-coding RNAs. The study also aims to:

  • Investigate regulatory networks involved in immune exhaustion in ATC and how these networks affect the immune landscape of the tumor.
  • Assess the efficacy of novel combined therapies targeting BRAFV600E-ATC cells.
  • Address the urgent need for effective therapies to manage advanced thyroid cancer, aligning with the PRCRP’s focus on prevention, mechanisms, and therapeutics in thyroid cancer.

This research line could lead to innovative treatments, improving patient’s health outcomes and offer new strategies for managing a critical health issue.

This grant will support the expansion and advancement of a leading-edge translational thyroid cancer program, driving innovation from bench to bedside.