Superior efficacy of vemurafenib combined with iodine-131 for lymph node metastatic BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer: a long-term survival analysis

Aims: To evaluate the long-term survival outcomes and therapeutic efficacy of vemurafenib combined with iodine-131 ( 131 I) by dual pathways in patients with lymph node metastatic BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer.Methods: This retrospective study included 80 patients with lymph node metastatic BRAF V600E-mutant thyroid cancer, treated between January 2022 and January 2025.Patients were assigned to a control group (vemurafenib monotherapy, n = 42) or an observation group (vemurafenib combined with 131 I, n = 38).Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were compared.Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier curves.Results: Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly lower PFS, OS, and MFS in the control group, compared to the observation group (all P