Research letter: immune checkpoint inhibitors against thyroid cancer

Purpose: This study comprehensively analyzed the global clinical trials and depicted a landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in thyroid cancer therapy. Methods: This study leveraged the Trialtrove database (https://clinicalintelligence.citeline.com/) to conduct a systematic analysis of the clinical trial landscape in thyroid cancer research. Utilizing professional medical subject headings, we performed a comprehensive search with keywords such as “Immune checkpoint inhibitor” and “Thyroid oncology,” identifying a total of 113 clinical trials. Results: Our review of 113 trials revealed a peak in 2020, primarily driven by phase II and III studies. Pembrolizumab was the most frequently studied monotherapy, while combinations such as Pembrolizumab-Lenvatinib and Camrelizumab-Apatinib were also evaluated. Biomarkers like BRAF and immune checkpoint markers were prominently investigated. Although most trials achieved their primary endpoints, only five reported positive outcomes. Our analysis underscores the importance of specific thyroid cancer subtypes and novel combination therapies in advancing ICIs applications. Conclusion: The study presents some valuable insights regarding the present state and future perspectives of clinical trials on thyroid cancer