Meta-analysis of the association between gene alterations and distant metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents

Background and purpose: Thyroid cancer is one of the fastest increasing malignancies worldwide, and its incidence in children and adolescents has also been increasing over the years. Meta-analysis were performed to investigate the correlation between gene alteration patterns and distant metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in children and adolescents. Methods: Databases were used to search studies on the association between gene alteration patterns and distant metastasis of DTC in children and adolescents, and STATA 14.0 software was used to analyze the gene alterations related to distant metastasis. Results: Twenty studies involving 1 273 patients were included, and the analysis showed that negative BRAF V600E mutation and positive RET gene fusion were risk factors for distant metastasis in DTC in children and adolescents, while NTRK gene fusion was not significantly associated with distant metastasis. Conclusion: Our research identified several genetic alterations associated with distant metastasis in DTC in children and adolescents, which could be guidance for prognosis assessment and treatment planning.