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Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
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New Emerging Treatment Options for Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Alessia Villani1, Luca Potestio2, Gabriella Fabbrocini2

  • 1Section of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy. ali.vil@hotmail.it.

Advances in Therapy
|January 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Novel therapies are emerging for advanced non-melanoma skin cancers. Hedgehog pathway inhibitors target basal cell carcinoma, while immune checkpoint inhibitors like cemiplimab offer new options for advanced squamous cell carcinoma.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Non-melanoma skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), exhibit rising global incidence.
  • While surgery is standard, advanced or metastatic BCC and cSCC necessitate targeted and alternative therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and analyze novel therapeutic approaches for advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
  • To provide a clearer understanding of current and emerging treatment options for these skin cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on targeted therapies for BCC.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data and approvals for cSCC treatments, focusing on immunotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibition represents a key therapeutic strategy for advanced BCC.
  • Cemiplimab, a programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, is approved for metastatic or locally advanced cSCC.
  • Ongoing research is evaluating other immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, and nivolumab, for advanced cSCC.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies, particularly hedgehog pathway inhibitors, have advanced BCC treatment.
  • Immunotherapy, exemplified by cemiplimab, provides a crucial new avenue for managing advanced cSCC.
  • Further investigation into immune checkpoint inhibitors holds promise for future treatment paradigms in advanced keratinocyte tumors.
Keywords:
Basal cell carcinomaCemiplimabHedgehog inhibitorSonidegibSquamous cell carcinomaVismodegib

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