Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42159588›Full record

ArticleThe oncologist2026

Clinical outcomes in older adults with advanced thyroid cancer.

Helena J Janse van Rensburg, Tian Xiao, Katherine Lajkosz, Vijithan Sugumar, Shabbir M H Alibhai, David Goldstein, Aruz Mesci, Carly C Barron, Lucy X Ma

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The oncologist, 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

9 authors.

Helena J Janse van RensburgDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-4066-7489
Tian XiaoDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Katherine LajkoszDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Vijithan SugumarDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Shabbir M H AlibhaiDepartment of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
David GoldsteinDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Aruz MesciDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Carly C BarronDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
Lucy X MaDivision of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-1407-0715

Funding

Hold'em for Life Fellowship Program
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAge is a prognostic factor in thyroid cancer. However, little is known about benefits and risks of systemic therapy in older adults with advanced thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND

methodsWe performed a retrospective review of patients ≥ 65 years of age with advanced thyroid cancer referred to medical oncology at our institution for consideration of systemic therapy between 2010 and 2025 (n = 114). Clinicopathologic, treatment, adverse event, and outcomes data were analyzed.

results65/114 patients received first-line systemic therapy. Median overall survival (OS) was 4.04 years (95% CI, 3.09-not estimable) in the whole cohort and 3.91 years (95% CI, 2.84-not estimable) in the treated cohort. First-line time-to-treatment discontinuation (TTD) in the treated cohort was 1.59 years (95% CI, 0.75-4.45). Age, male sex, and anaplastic histology predicted shorter OS in the whole cohort. Age, male sex, increasing Charlson comorbidity index, and BRAF and/or TERT mutation predicted worse OS and/or TTD amongst treated patients. For patients receiving lenvatinib (n = 37), adverse events led to significant proportions of patients requiring dose reductions (65%), treatment breaks (78%), emergency department (ED) visits (16%), and drug discontinuation (14%). Adverse events led to treatment breaks (56%), ED visits (67%), and drug discontinuation (22%) in patients receiving dabrafenib + trametinib (n = 9). Female sex, geriatric oncology referral, polypharmacy, and BRAF mutation predicted higher number of ED visits.

conclusionAlthough survival outcomes were comparable to those described in younger adults, adverse events were common and impactful in older adults.

Indexed as

Thyroid NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMalePhenylurea CompoundsPrognosisProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafPyridonesPyrimidinonesQuinolinesRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomelenvatinibPhenylurea CompoundsProto-Oncogene Proteins B-rafPyridonesPyrimidinonesQuinolinesgeriatric oncologysystemic therapytargeted therapythyroid neoplasmstyrosine kinase inhibitors

Identifiers

PMID42159588
PMCPMC13261072

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.