There are some early studies but the use of abrafenib (Tafinlar) remaisn experimental and not guideline recommended at this time (Augyst of 2015) .The combined published phase I data for the two BRAF inhibitors—vemurafenib and dabrafenib— that are most studied in this situation show about a one-third response rate in papillary cancer with the BRAF mutation The latest is the trial by Falchook et al. Fourteen patients with BRAF(V600E)-mutant thyroid carcinoma were enrolled, of whom 13 (93%) had received prior radioactive iodine. The median duration on treatment was 8.4 months, and seven (50%) patients received treatment for ≥10 months. Four (29%) partial responses were observed, and nine (64%) patients achieved at least 10% decrease. With seven (50%) patients showing no progression at the time of study completion, the median progression-free survival was 11.3 months.

A randomized phase II trial is dabrafenib vs dabrafenib combined with the MEK inhibitor trametinib is getting underway in four sites, (Ohio State, MD Anderson, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Johns Hopkins). The hypothesis that a MEK inhibitor in combination with BRAF inhibitor maybe more effective and yield less resistance than a BRAF inhibitor alone will be directly tested.

Falchook GS, Millward M, Hong D, Naing A, Piha-Paul S, Waguespack SG, Cabanillas ME, Sherman SI, Ma B, Curtis M, Goodman V, Kurzrock R. BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib in patients with metastatic BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer. Thyroid. 2015 Jan;25(1):71-7.