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Updated: May 8, 2026

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
06:53

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis

Published on: August 21, 2013

Profile of vismodegib and its potential in the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma

Muzafar A Macha1, Surinder K Batra, Apar Kishor Ganti

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.

Cancer Management and Research
|August 14, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common human cancer, is now treatable with vismodegib, a targeted therapy. This drug inhibits the mutated hedgehog pathway crucial for BCC development, showing significant patient responses.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent human malignancy.
  • Understanding BCC's molecular pathogenesis has enabled targeted therapy development.
  • The hedgehog signaling pathway is frequently altered in BCC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of the hedgehog pathway in BCC development.
  • To detail the pharmacology and clinical activity of vismodegib.
  • To discuss vismodegib as a targeted therapy for advanced BCC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of hedgehog pathway in BCC.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for vismodegib.
  • Pharmacological review of vismodegib's mechanism of action.

Main Results:

  • Hedgehog pathway mutations are nearly universal in BCC.
  • Vismodegib, a hedgehog pathway inhibitor, demonstrates significant efficacy.
  • Targeted therapy offers a new treatment modality for advanced BCC.

Conclusions:

  • The hedgehog pathway is a critical driver of BCC.
  • Vismodegib represents a successful targeted therapy for advanced BCC.
  • Further research into pathway-specific treatments is warranted.
Keywords:
basal cell carcinomahedgehog pathwayvismodegib

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