Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40865971›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of surgery (London, England)2026

Efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kang Ning, Qiaorong Chen, Yu Guo, Hao Li, Bu Zou, Taonong Cai, Li Wang, Yongchao Yu, Zhenyu Luo, Jian Bu and 9 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of surgery (London, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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

19 authors.

Kang NingDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.ORCID 0000-0002-5628-8555
Qiaorong ChenZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Yu GuoDepartment of Thyroid Center/Thyroid Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Hao LiThe Second Clinical College of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China.
Bu ZouDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Taonong CaiDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Li WangState Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Yongchao YuDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Zhenyu LuoDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Jian BuZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Han HongZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Ziying LiSchool of Medicine, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China.
Xujia WenZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Mingjie JiangDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Tong WuDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Tianrun LiuDepartment of Thyroid Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Weichao ChenDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Zan JiaoDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
Ankui YangDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAnaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare, aggressive solid tumor with poor prognosis. Traditional treatment such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy has limited therapeutic effects. In recent years, immunotherapy is changing the treatment pattern of them. We systematically summarize the research status and application of immunotherapy in ATC to provide clinicians and relevant researchers with a comprehensive perspective.

methodA comprehensive search of the PubMed and Embase databases identified 18 studies investigating the application of immunotherapy in ATC. These included ten cohort studies and eight case reports. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) and Joanna Briggs Institute checklist (JBI). Subsequently, a single-proportion meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy in ATC.

resultsThe favorable response rate to immunotherapy in ATC patients (33-100%) varies across cohorts, indicating substantial heterogeneity. The combination of immunotherapy with targeted therapy, as well as the use of neoadjuvant treatment, has led to improved outcomes for ATC. Single-proportion meta-analysis suggests that immunotherapy may provide clinical benefits for a subset of ATC patients (approximately one-third to one-half), but its effectiveness in controlling disease progression remains limited. Meta-regression further indicates that ATC patients with PD-L1 expression or BRAF V600E mutations tend to have better treatment responses. Among the 8 case reports, two patients achieved complete remission after immunotherapy, and four patients died of disease progression after immunotherapy. Mild adverse effects are common, but interstitial pneumonia is associated with poor prognosis in immunotherapy.

conclusionImmunotherapy for ATC has demonstrated safety and efficacy in several studies, especially in patients with PD-L1 expression or BRAF V600E mutations. However, immune-related side effects should be carefully managed, particularly to prevent interstitial pneumonia.

Indexed as

ImmunotherapyThyroid Carcinoma, AnaplasticThyroid NeoplasmsHumansTreatment Outcomeanaplastic thyroid carcinomaimmunotherapyprognosissystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40865971
PMCPMC12825863

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-SA
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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 Socratic graph.