Efficacy and safety of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in advanced radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and metastatic medullary thyroid cancer: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that a subgroup of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) would progress to advanced stages of thyroid cancer. Therefore, the present study was done to systematically review available evidence in order to investigate efficacy and safety of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) in the patients with advanced radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) and metastatic MTC. METHODS: For this purpose, relevant studies investigated safety and efficacy of PRRT in the patients with advanced RR-DTC and metastatic MTC were identified by searching Medline (Pubmed, Ovid, and Ebsco), Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases (from database inception to March 24, 2021). The review was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. Searching was done independently by two investigators. Two researchers independently extracted the data and any disagreement was adjudicated by consensus. Quality of the studies was assessed using the tool of case reports/series in systematic reviews. RESULTS: Among 2284 related papers, 41 papers met the inclusion criteria. A total of 157 patients with RR-DTC were treated with PPRT. Biochemical and objective responses (partial and complete) were observed in 25.3 and 10.5% of patients, respectively. Among 220 patients with metastatic MTC, biochemical and objective responses were observed in 37.2 and 10.6% of the patients, respectively. Forty-six deaths were reported in 95 patients with advanced RR-DTC. In addition, 63 deaths were observed in 144 patients with metastatic MTC. Major side effects were reported in 124 patients treated with (90)Y -based agent. In the patients treated with 177Lu-DOTA-TATE and 111In-Octreotide, mild and transient hematologic or renal complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Findings of the study revealed that in the absence of the established treatment for the patients with RR-DTC and metastatic MTC, PRRT could be effective with few adverse events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019125245. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08257-x.