Research progress on the sensitivity of radioactive iodine therapy and its influencing factors in differentiated thyroid cancer

Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is one of the critical treatments for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The therapeutic effect is mainly related to the uptake ability of tumor lesions to RAI and radiosensitivity of the tumor cells. The sensitivity to RAI therapy may be improved by the two aforementioned directions in patients who are unsatisfactory in the evaluation of response to RAI therapy. By analyzing the relevant signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that affect RAI therapy in DTC patients in recent years, the authors summarize the relevant mechanisms affecting RAI uptake, including sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression and plasma membrane localization, as well as the DNA damage repair mechanisms that affect the radiosensitivity of RAI. It is expected to provide direction for the basic and clinical research of internal irradiation sensitization therapy for DTC patients.