Immune checkpoint inhibitors for advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma: how much evidence do we need?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common skin cancer, usually curable in early stages.
• Advanced or metastatic BCC presents treatment challenges, with limited options beyond hedgehog inhibitors.
• Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, has emerged as a promising treatment modality for various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review experimental and preclinical data on immunotherapy for BCC.
• To evaluate clinical evidence for immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced or metastatic BCC.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for challenging BCC cases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of experimental and preclinical studies.
• Analysis of clinical evidence from case reports, case series, and clinical trials.
• Focus on immunotherapy, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors like anti-PD1.

Main Results:

• Hedgehog inhibitors have demonstrated activity in advanced BCC.
• An anti-PD1 therapy has recently been approved for advanced BCC.
• Clinical data on immunotherapy for BCC, while growing, is still being compiled from various sources.

Conclusions:

• Immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, represents a significant advancement in treating advanced or metastatic BCC.
• Further research and clinical trials are crucial to fully establish the role and optimize the use of immunotherapy in BCC management.
• The recent approval of an anti-PD1 agent marks a new era in BCC treatment, offering hope for patients with limited therapeutic options.