Therapeutic Advances in Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Published in: Cancers Vol. 16; no. 17; p. 3075
• Main Authors: Alkassis, Samer, Shatta, Maya, Wong, Deborah J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.09.2024
• Subjects: Arsenic; Basal cell carcinoma; Cancer therapies; Cell cycle; Disease management; Disease resistance; FDA approval; Fibroblasts; Hedgehog protein; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune system; Immunotherapy; Lymphocytes; Metastases; Metastasis; Mutagenesis; Mutation; Pathogenesis; Patients; Proteins; Quality of life; Radiation therapy; Risk factors; Skin cancer; Surgery; Tumor microenvironment; Tumors; Ultraviolet radiation; United States > US; hedgehog inhibitor; basal cell carcinoma; anti-PD1; checkpoint inhibitor
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers16173075

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of cancer with an estimated 3.6 million cases diagnosed annually in the US alone. While most cases are treatable with low recurrence rates, 1-10% progress to an advanced stage which can behave aggressively, leading to local destruction and posing substantial challenges in management. The pathogenesis often involves dysregulation of the patched/hedgehog protein family, a pivotal pathway targeted by recently approved therapies. Furthermore, the role of immunotherapy is evolving in this type of tumor as we learn more about tumor microenvironment dynamics. In recent years, there have been advancements in the therapeutic landscape of advanced BCC, offering patients new hope and options for managing this complex and potentially life-threatening condition. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of this disease, including the risk factors, underlying pathogenesis, current treatment options of advanced disease, and the ongoing exploration and development of novel therapies.