Research and clinical trials for thyroid cancer
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for thyroid cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Some of the trials on this page have now stopped recruiting people. It takes time before the results are available. This is because the trial team follow the patients for a period of time and collect and analyse the results. We have included this ongoing research to give examples of the type of research being carried out in thyroid cancer.
When looking at the trials database, click on the ‘recruiting’, ‘closed’ and ‘results’ tabs to make sure you see all the trials.
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:
they work
they work better than the treatments already available
they are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
The interNational Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Tissue Bank project is looking into anaplastic thyroid cancer. This is a rare type of thyroid cancer that is difficult to research. Researchers are collecting samples of from people with anaplastic thyroid cancer from across the UK.
These samples will help researchers to learn more about anaplastic thyroid cancer. A greater understanding could lead to better treatments in the future.
Researchers are also looking at whether could help with treatment for advanced thyroid cancer. They are collecting blood samples from people with advanced thyroid cancer. They want to see if they can find ctDNA in the blood.
These samples will help researchers investigate how ctDNA plays a part in advanced thyroid cancer. And if it could help monitor or detect changes in the cancer, including how it responds to treatment.
Radioactive iodine is a type of radioisotope therapy. It uses a radioactive form of iodine called iodine 131 (I-131). It is a treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer.
Researchers are looking at the amount of radioactive iodine a person has. They are comparing the dose a person receives with the amount they actually absorb. The study team think that the success of treatment might depend on how much the body absorbs.
These results could improve treatment in the future. They could help to make sure that people have the most effective dose of radioactive iodine.
Researchers are comparing two types of surgery for thyroid cancer. These are surgery to remove the whole thyroid and surgery to remove only the side (lobe) that the cancer is in. Removing the whole thyroid is called a total thyroidectomy. Removing one side is called a hemithyroidectomy.
They want to know whether a hemithyroidectomy is as good as a total thyroidectomy.
Targeted cancer drugs work by ‘targeting’ those differences that help a cancer cell to grow and survive. Doctors sometimes use targeted drugs to treat people with thyroid cancer.
Over the years, doctors have looked into targeted drugs for thyroid cancer and many of these are now used for treatment. Researchers are looking for different drugs to treat thyroid cancer, such as pralsetinib.
Last reviewed: 04 Nov 2026
Next review due: 04 Nov 2029
Search for clinical trials with Cancer Research UK. Clinical trials are medical research studies involving people.
Researchers are looking at ways to improve the treatment for thyroid cancer.
Practical and emotional support is available to help you cope with thyroid cancer.
The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland that makes and releases hormones. It’s found at the front of your neck in the lowest part.
