Identifying patients at risk for recurrent or advanced BCC.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a prevalent skin malignancy with increasing global incidence.
• Accurate diagnosis and risk stratification (low- vs. high-risk) are crucial for managing BCC recurrence and advanced disease.
• While surgery is the primary BCC treatment, it is not suitable for all patients or tumor types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current understanding and management of basal cell carcinoma.
• To highlight the role of vismodegib as a novel therapeutic option for advanced BCC.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical presentation and histologic examination for BCC diagnosis and risk stratification.
• Evaluation of available surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities for BCC.
• Assessment of the impact of vismodegib, a hedgehog pathway inhibitor, on advanced BCC management.

Main Results:

• BCC diagnosis relies on clinical assessment and histology to determine recurrence risk.
• Various surgical and nonsurgical treatments exist for BCC.
• Vismodegib provides a new therapeutic avenue for patients with locally advanced or metastatic BCC.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of basal cell carcinoma requires accurate diagnosis and risk stratification.
• The introduction of vismodegib expands treatment options for advanced BCC, particularly for patients unsuitable for surgery.