pairingsPairing
BRAF/MEK inhibition → surgery in anaplastic thyroid cancer
Shrink a BRAF-mutant anaplastic thyroid tumour with pills first, then remove what is left; some patients now survive years instead of months.
MD Anderson series: neoadjuvant dabrafenib-trametinib (often with pembrolizumab) rendered unresectable ATC operable with 12-month survival above 90% in responders. Rapid BRAF testing at diagnosis is now standard.
Rationale
ATC doubles in weeks; BRAF/MEK inhibition produces responses within days, buying time for definitive local therapy.
Evidence
Phase 2 ROAR plus institutional series; no randomised trial (rarity).