The Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: In most existing clinical studies, Pembrolizumab combined therapy has shown good efficacy for ATC. However, the results of this therapy in some other studies have been controversial, and there is a lack of relevant evidence. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of survival data, tumor responses, and adverse events. Methods: The online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) were thoroughly searched to collect eligible studies fully. The data were extracted and combined into the meta-analysis. The main outcomes included objective response rate (ORR), stable disease (SD), disease control rate (DCR), median overall survival (mOS), and adverse events (AEs). Result: Our meta-analysis included 8 studies. The pooled ORR, SD, and DCR were 46.0%, 20%, and 74%. Pooled mOS was 9.62 months. Most patients went through grades 1 or 2 AEs. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 Ads was significantly lower, rarely exceeding 5%. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that Pembrolizumab has potential antitumor implications in ATC and is extremely well tolerated.