Iodine I 131 in Treating Patients With Thyroid Cancer
Iodine I 131 in Treating Patients With Thyroid Cancer
RATIONALE: Radioactive iodine kills thyroid cancer cells by giving off radiation.

 PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the side effects, best dose, and how well iodine I
 131 works in treating patients with thyroid cancer.
OBJECTIVES:

 -  Determine the relationship between estimated absorbed dose of iodine I 131 and tumor
 response or normal organ toxicity for different dosimetric measures, using data derived
 from clinical radionuclide therapy studies in patients with thyroid cancer.

 OUTLINE: Patients receive oral dosimetric iodine I 131 (^131I) on day 2 and then undergo
 nuclear medicine imaging at 0.5-4 hours, 24, 48, and 72 hours after dosimetric ^131I.
 Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT scans are performed at 0.5-4 hours and
 24 or 48 hours over the head and neck region, including the salivary glands. Subsequent
 SPECT/CT scans are performed over the candidate tumor sites. Patients undergo ^131I therapy
 on day 11.

 Saliva is collected on days 1 and 2, weeks 2 and 4, and months 3 and 6 to measure saliva flow
 rate. Blood is collected at baseline and periodically during study to measure FLT3 ligand
 levels.

 PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 96 patients will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Diagnosis of thyroid cancer

 -  Measurable disease by CT scan or nuclear medicine imaging

 -  Eligible, by standard of care criteria, for iodine I 131 therapy

 PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

 -  Not pregnant or nursing

 -  Negative pregnancy test

 -  Fertile patients must use effective non-barrier method contraception (e.g., combined
 or progesterone-only oral contraceptive pill, intrauterine device, depot progesterone,
 or stable relationship with a partner who has had a vasectomy)

 -  No other malignancy within the past 5 years except squamous cell or basal cell
 carcinoma of the skin

 -  No nonthyroidal conditions known to affect iodine I 131 uptake (e.g., New York Heart
 Association class III or IV congestive heart failure or renal failure)

 -  No alcoholism or drug abuse within the past 2 years

 -  No severe emotional, behavioral, or psychiatric problems that would preclude study
 compliance (e.g., severe claustrophobia)

 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

 -  No intravenous water-soluble radiographic contrast within the past 4 weeks

 -  No iodinated contrast agent within the past 3 months

 -  No concurrent drugs that may affect thyroid or renal function (e.g., renal drugs,
 lithium, amiodarone, other iodine-containing medication, or corticosteroids)

 -  No other concurrent investigational drugs