Targeted β-therapy with rhenium-aided therapy for cutaneous lesions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy. Primary treatments may at times yield suboptimal results. In these cases, alternative therapies or the combination of different modalities may be required to achieve complete removal and prevent the risk of recurrence.

We examined studies published up to July 2025 using databases such as PubMed and Scopus, focusing on the performance of rhenium-assisted therapies with respect to therapeutic efficacy and potential adverse effects. Studies investigating the therapeutic outcomes of rhenium-assisted therapies for cutaneous lesions were considered. The primary endpoint was the response rate to rhenium-assisted therapies.

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 10 studies involving 433 patients and more than 618 lesions. Of these, seven studies were included in the meta-analysis, in which rhenium-assisted therapy achieved a complete response rate of 88.67%(95% CI: 84.7-91.7%) and an overall response rate of 92.9% (95% CI: 89.1-95.5%). A leave-one-out analysis was performed to assess the study's impact on heterogeneity, revealing that one study markedly influenced the pooled effect. By excluding this outlier, heterogeneity was substantially reduced, while the overall mean effect remained significant (complete response 94, 95% CI [90, 96%]; overall response 97, 95% CI [92, 99%]).

Rhenium-assisted therapy for skin cancer appears effective and safe in treating lesions unresponsive to standard options. It may represent a valuable tool, providing advantages over conventional approaches. Further studies are warranted to confirm its efficacy and establish standardized protocols.