Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42467350›Full record

SynthesisCNS drugs2026

Disease Stabilization with MEK Inhibitors in NF1-Associated Plexiform Neurofibromas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with Subgroup Analyses by Age and Study Design.

Sai Sanikommu, Alejandro N Santos, Bashar M Dawoud, Adam S Levy, Ricardo J Komotar, Victor M Lu

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in CNS drugs, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Sai SanikommuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. vms136@miami.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-3637-5033
Alejandro N SantosDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Bashar M DawoudDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Adam S LevyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Ricardo J KomotarDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
Victor M LuDepartment of Neurosurgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, 832 G, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPlexiform neurofibromas (PN) represent a significant cause of morbidity among patients diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). MEK inhibitors continue to be developed as targeted therapies by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway to treat PN; nonetheless to this day, therapeutic responses have varied across different patient populations and clinical contexts, and the overall efficacy and tolerability of these agents remain incompletely characterized.

objectiveWe aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of MEK inhibitor therapy in patients with NF1-associated PN and to evaluate differences among key subgroups based on the most contemporary metadata.

methodsA comprehensive search was performed across electronic databases to identify studies that reported outcomes related to MEK inhibitor therapy in NF1-associated PN. Pooled proportions were calculated using a random-effects meta-analysis with logit transformation. Outcomes assessed included objective response rate, disease control rate, disease progression rate, and grade ≥ 3 adverse events.

resultsA total of 23 studies comprising 769 patients were included. The pooled objective response rate was estimated at 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 46-65; I

conclusionsThe use of MEK inhibitors is associated with high rates of disease control and minimal tumor progression in patients with NF1-related PN, with consistent effects observed across clinical trial and real-world environments. Although tumor reduction occurs in some patients, the predominant therapeutic benefit appears to be sustained disease stabilization, with response variability noted among different age groups and study designs.

Indexed as

Neurofibroma, PlexiformNeurofibromatosis 1Protein Kinase InhibitorsAge FactorsDisease ProgressionHumansResearch DesignTreatment OutcomeProtein Kinase Inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID42467350
PMCPMC13481735

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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.