Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41920291›Full record

SynthesisEndocrine2026

BRAF/MEK inhibitors for redifferentiation in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.

Kexin Shi, Xinyue Zhang, Chenyu Sun, Yuewen Sun, Tian Tian, Rui Huang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Endocrine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kexin Shi *Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Xinyue Zhang *Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Chenyu SunDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Yuewen SunDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Tian TianDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China. tiantianscu@stu.scu.edu.cn.
Rui HuangDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37. Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China. huang_rui@scu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-3191-0528

Funding

1.3.5 project for disciplines of excellence, West China Hospital, Sichuan University 23HXFH025Science & Technology Department of Sichuan Province 2024YFFK0025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeRadioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer has a poor prognosis with impaired radioiodine uptake. Previous studies have demonstrated that redifferentiation therapy might restore radioiodine avidity. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of redifferentiation therapy in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

methodsRelevant studies from three databases were systematically searched until March 25, 2025. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) assessment tool. A meta-analysis was performed with Stata version 18. The study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251032500).

resultsSeven studies were included with a total of 119 evaluable patients. The pooled restoration rate of radioiodine uptake across seven studies was 0.50 (95% CI: 0.40–0.60) based on diagnostic whole-body scan. BRAF inhibitor, MEK inhibitor and combination therapy of both inhibitors demonstrated restoration rates of 0.60 (95% CI: 0.37–0.81), 0.40 (95% CI: 0.23–0.58) and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.35–0.78), respectively. The restoration rates of BRAF-mutant patients and RAS-mutant patients were 0.56 (95% CI: 0.41–0.70) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.42–0.93), respectively. The objective response rate was 0.29 (95% CI: 0.15–0.44) and the disease control rate was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.78–0.99) from three studies that reported efficacy data for all evaluable patients. The incidence of grade 3–4 adverse events was 0.14 (95% CI: 0.01–0.34).

conclusionThis meta-analysis provides preliminary evidence for the efficacy and safety of BRAF/MEK-targeted redifferentiation therapy in patients with radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer. However, evidence on its benefit in improving progression-free survival or overall survival remains scarce.

Indexed as

Iodine RadioisotopesProtein Kinase InhibitorsProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafThyroid NeoplasmsHumansBRAF protein, humanIodine RadioisotopesProtein Kinase InhibitorsProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafBRAF inhibitorMEK inhibitorRadioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancerRadioiodine therapyRedifferentiation therapy

Identifiers

PMID41920291

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.