Everolimus for compassionate use in multiple Basal cell carcinomas.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common skin cancer.
• Standard treatments like surgery may not be suitable for all patients, especially the elderly or those with multiple lesions.
• Alternative therapies such as topical 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod may have limited efficacy in advanced cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of everolimus in elderly, non-transplant patients with multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCC).
• To explore everolimus as a compassionate treatment option for patients with advanced BCC who have refused or failed other therapies.

Main Methods:

• Four elderly, non-transplant patients with a history of multiple BCCs were treated with oral everolimus (1.5-3.0 mg daily).
• Patients had previously refused surgery and did not respond to alternative treatments.
• Treatment duration was 12 months or longer.

Main Results:

• One patient achieved a complete and sustained response.
• Two patients experienced partial responses.
• Everolimus was well tolerated by all elderly patients, with no significant adverse events reported.

Conclusions:

• Everolimus demonstrates promising antineoplastic activity against advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
• The drug is well-tolerated in elderly patients, suggesting a potential therapeutic role.
• Further dose-finding, controlled clinical studies are warranted to confirm these findings and establish optimal treatment protocols for BCC patients unsuitable for surgery.