Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma Research Articles

Recovery of Facial Nerve Function After Vismodegib Treatment of Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Recovery of Facial Nerve Function After Vismodegib Treatment of Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma.

An Explorative Study on Calcium Electroporation for Low-risk Basal Cell Carcinoma.

In electrochemotherapy, permeabilization of the cell membrane by electric pulses increases the anti-tumour effect of chemotherapeutics. In calcium electroporation, chemotherapy is replaced by calcium chloride with obvious benefits. This study explores the effect and underlying mechanisms of calcium electroporation on basal cell carcinomas using either high- or low-frequency electroporation. Low-risk primary basal cell carcinomas were treated in local anaesthesia with intratumoral calcium chloride followed by electroporation with high (167 kHz) or low (5 kHz) frequencies. Non-complete responders were retreated after 3 months. The primary endpoint was tumour response 3 months after last calcium electroporation. Plasma membrane calcium ATPase was examined in various cell lines as plasma membrane calcium ATPase levels have been associated with calcium electroporation efficacy. Twenty-two out of 25 included patients complete the study and 7 of these (32%) achieved complete response at 3 months with no difference in efficacy between high- and low-frequency pulses. High-frequency calcium electroporation was significantly less painful (p=0.03). Plasma membrane calcium ATPase was increased 16-32-fold in basal cell carcinoma cell lines compared with 4 other cancer cell lines. Calcium electroporation for low-risk basal cell carcinomas does not fulfil the requirements of a new dermatological basal cell carcinoma treatment but may be useful as adjuvant treatment to surgery in more advanced basal cell carcinomas. The elevated PMCA levels in basal cell carcinomas may contribute to low efficacy.

Hedgehog pathway inhibitors for locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A real-world single-center retrospective review.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is highly curable by surgical excision or radiation. In rare cases, BCC can be locally destructive or difficult to surgically remove. Hedgehog inhibition (HHI) with vismodegib or sonidegib induces a 50-60% response rate. Long-term toxicity includes muscle spasms and weight loss leading to dose decreases. This retrospective chart review also investigates the impact of CoQ10 and calcium supplementation in patients treated with HHI drugs at a single academic medical center from 2012 to 2022. We reviewed the charts of adult patients diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic BCC treated with vismodegib or sonidegib primarily for progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives included overall survival, BCC-specific survival, time to and reasons for discontinuation, overall response rate, safety and tolerability, use of CoQ10 and calcium supplements, and insurance coverage. Of 55 patients assessable for outcome, 34 (61.8%) had an overall clinical benefit, with 25 (45.4%) having a complete response and 9 (16.3%) a partial response. Stable disease was seen in 14 (25.4%) and 7 (12.7%) progressed. Of the 34 patients who responded to treatment, 9 recurred. Patients who were rechallenged with HHI could respond again. The median overall BCC-specific survival rate at 5 years is 89%. Dose reductions or discontinuations for vismodegib and sonidegib occurred in 59% versus 24% of cases, or 30% versus 9% of cases, respectively. With CoQ10 and calcium supplementation, only 17% required a dose reduction versus 42% without. HHI is highly effective for treating advanced BCC but may require dosing decreases. Sonidegib was better tolerated than vismodegib. CoQ10 and calcium supplementation can effectively prevent muscle spasms.

Abstract 7518: Neoadjuvant-adjuvant pembrolizumab in resectable advanced basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck: An open-label, single-arm, phase 1b trial

Abstract Introduction: BCC is a common form of skin cancer that shares treatment-related aspects with the more well-studied skin malignancy, melanoma, including sensitivity to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. However, despite major advances in peri-operative immunotherapy for melanoma, little is known regarding these strategies in BCC. This phase 1B, single-arm study evaluated neoadjuvant-adjuvant treatment with pembrolizumab (PEMBRO) together with standard of care (SOC) resection in advanced BCC of the head and neck. Methods: Eligible patients had resectable, locally advanced BCC of the head and neck, defined by at least one of the following high-risk characteristics: a measurement of ≥ 20 mm, indication for post-operative radiation, or perineural invasion (PNI) in multiple nerves. Patients were naive to hedgehog inhibitors (HHI) and had an ECOG of 0 or 1. All patients received IV PEMBRO at a dose of 200 mg every 3 weeks for a total of 4 cycles, then within 4 weeks underwent a SOC resection followed by adjuvant PEMBRO until a total of 17 cycles was completed. After the 30-day post treatment safety follow-up visit, patients were followed for up to 5 years post-operatively. The primary endpoint was pathological response rate. Secondary endpoints included RECIST response by radiographic or physical exam, adverse events (AE), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: 13 patients were enrolled in the trial from July 2020 to May 2023, and received at least one dose of PEMBRO. Two patients withdrew from the trial after one dose of PEMBRO, one following treatment-related G3 hepatitis and a second due to an unrelated medical complication (cholecystitis). Out of 11 patients undergoing surgical resection, 10 patients received 4 out of 4 and 1 patient received 3 out of 4 planned cycles of neoadjuvant PEMBRO (investigator preference without new related AE). Pathological complete response (pCR) was observed in 3 patients (23%). For those with RECIST measurable disease, 2 patients demonstrated a complete response (CR), 1 patient a partial response (PR), and 5 patients showed stable disease (SD). Two patients had progressive disease (PD). One patient with a complete pathologic response had a discordant RECIST response with PD noted radiographically. All 13 patients experienced at least one AE of G1 or 2. The highest grade of related AEs were noted in 2 patients with grade 3 hepatitis and pruritus respectively that resolved with supportive therapy. As of November 2023, the median follow-up time is 17.6 months with no recurrences noted. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant-adjuvant PEMBRO shows promising efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in resectable advanced BCC of the head and neck. Given these positive results and the healthcare burden BCC accounts for, these findings warrant further study. Citation Format: Grace M. Jones, James Isaacs, Lucy Boyce Kennedy, Jennifer Ko, Allison Vidimos, Alok Vij, Christine Poblete-Lopez, Jennifer Lucas, Yee Peng Phoon, Melissa McEnery-Stonelake, Jon Meine, Thach-Giao Truong, Pauline Funchain, Brian Gastman. Neoadjuvant-adjuvant pembrolizumab in resectable advanced basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck: An open-label, single-arm, phase 1b trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7518.

Abstract 6568: PTCH1 loss-of-function alterations: Mutational landscape and therapeutic outcomes to hedgehog pathway inhibitors in non-canonical histologies

Abstract Background: Loss-of-function (LOF) alterations of the PTCH1 tumor suppressor gene represent canonical events involved in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) oncogenesis. Hedgehog pathway inhibitors (HPIs) are approved for the treatment of advanced BCC, but genomic characterization and therapeutic outcomes remain limited in tumor agnostic cohorts. Methods: Using the MSK Clinical Sequencing Cohort, we performed a mutational landscape analysis of PTCH1 LOF alterations in non-BCC histologies, including Fraction and Allele-Specific Copy Number Estimates from Tumor Sequencing (FACETS) annotation, and analyzed response and progression-free survival (PFS) with HPIs. Results: Out of 115,619 samples, 1972 samples from advanced solid tumors with PTCH1 LOF alterations were identified. Excluding 1306 variants of unknown significance (VUSs) using OncoKB knowledge base as well as 44 BCC samples, a total of 622 samples from 570 patients with oncogenic PTCH1 alterations were identified across histologies. In addition, 124 patients received ≥1 line(s) of HPI at our institution between 2013 and 2023, including 16 patients with non-BCC histologies presenting PTCH1 alterations. At the patient level (n=570), PTCH1 LOF alterations were present across 33 primary sites, including colorectal cancer (CRC; 34%; n=192), endometrial cancer (17%; n=98), gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (ADC) (8%; n=46), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; 6%; n=34) and soft tissue sarcomas (STS; 4%; n=25). At the sample level (n=622), TMB ≥10 was seen in 83% (n=516), including 324 samples with MSI-high status. PTCH1 alterations most frequently involved frameshift (fs) indels (69%; n=429), followed by nonsense mutations (18%; n=114), splice site mutations (8%; n=47) and fusions (5%; n=32). Recurrent fs events involved S1203Afs*52 (24%; n=150) and R1308Efs*64 (14%; n=89), among others. When comparing monoallelic (monoall) vs biallelic (biall) PTCH1 alterations through FACETS annotation, monoall showed a strong association with higher TMB (p<0.01) whereas biall were associated with higher loss of heterozygosity (LOH; p<0.01). In the 16 non-BCC patients treated with HPIs, histologies included lung squamous cell cancer (SCC; n=4), cutaneous SCC (n=2), medulloblastoma (n=2), carcinosarcoma (n=2), osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, chordoma, sebaceous ADC, anal SCC and CRC (each n=1). TMB ≥10 was seen in 31% (n=5), all of which were MSI-low. Tumor regressions on HPI were seen in 50% (n=8), including lung SCC, cutaneous SCC, sebaceous ADC and medulloblastoma, with median time to response of 3.6 months (mo). Median PFS on HPI was 3.9 mo and median OS was 22.7 mo. Median PFS was higher in patients with TMB ≥10 vs TMB <10 (11.8 vs. 1.8 mo, p=0.02). Conclusion: PTCH1 LOF alterations appear actionable in non-BCC cutaneous/adnexal primaries, lung SCC and medulloblastoma, including TMB-high tumors. Citation Format: Antoine Desilets, Matteo Repetto, Soo Ryum Yang, Monica Chen, Dazhi Liu, Nikhil Rizvi, Ezra Rosen, Alan L. Ho, Alexander Drilon, Yonina R. Murciano-Goroff. PTCH1 loss-of-function alterations: Mutational landscape and therapeutic outcomes to hedgehog pathway inhibitors in non-canonical histologies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6568.

Efficacy Following Discontinuation of Sonidegib Treatment in Patients With Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma: Results From the BOLT 42-Month Analysis

Introduction: Sonidegib, a Hedgehog (HH) pathway inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) not amenable to curative surgery or radiation. The pivotal 42-month BOLT (NCT01327053) study demonstrated sustained efficacy and manageable safety of sonidegib. Prior analyses at 18 months demonstrated clinical benefit persisting beyond sonidegib discontinuation. Pharmacokinetic modeling suggests HH pathway inhibition can be maintained following discontinuation. This analysis presents the efficacy of sonidegib 200 mg daily in patients with laBCC who discontinued treatment without disease progression (PD) at 42 months (end of study).
 Methods: BOLT was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 study. Objective response rates (ORRs; complete response + partial response), duration of response (DOR), and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed by central and investigator review per modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST). Adverse events (AEs) were also assessed.
 Results: Of the 66 patients with laBCC randomized to sonidegib 200 mg daily, 37 discontinued treatment without PD. The ORRs for these patients per central (57% [n = 20]) and investigator (73% [n = 27]) review were similar to the overall patient population (61% [n = 40] and 71% [n = 47] per central and investigator review, respectively). For patients who discontinued treatment, the median (95% confidence interval [CI]) DOR per central and investigator review was not estimable (NE) and 20.2 months (12.0, NE), respectively. The median PFS (95% CI) per central and investigator review was NE and 22.0 months (16.6, NE), respectively. Most AEs were Grades 1/2 in severity.
 Conclusion: In this 42-month analysis among patients with laBCC who received sonidegib 200 mg daily, clinical benefit was observed beyond treatment discontinuation during this study.

Multidisciplinary Management of Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma in a Patient With Severe Congenital Hemophilia A.

Multidisciplinary Management of Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma in a Patient With Severe Congenital Hemophilia A.

Images in Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology: Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACT A 62-year-old man presented with a slowly growing, painless lesion on his face. This eventually led to a progressive left-eye vision lesion, and the patient was subsequently diagnosed with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Of note, BCC involving cranial nerves is extremely rare, making this case unique and important to highlight. Standard treatment options for BCC involve surgery, radiation, or platinum-based chemotherapy. However, targeted therapies such as sonidegib and vismodegib – sonic hedgehog pathway inhibitors – have emerged that have been approved for treating BCC, as have anti-PD1 immunotherapies, such as cemiplimab, with their success likely based on the high tumor mutational burden seen in some of these tumors. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors also serve a role in treating this condition as well. Molecular studies on metastatic/advanced BCC and other rare malignancies may inform treatment therapeutic decisions.

Sequential combination of Sonic Hedgehog inhibitors followed by consolidation radiotherapy in locally advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Sonic Hedgehog inhibitors (SHHis) are an effective treatment in locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC), but the use of these drugs is limited by adverse events and relapse at discontinuation in around half of patients. A few cases of patients treated concomitantly by radiotherapy (RT) and SHHis have been reported in the literature, suggesting that the combination results in an improved overall response. Maintaining complete response after stopping treatment is a concern, especially since resuming treatment in the case of relapse does not guarantee a new therapeutic response. The optimal combination and sequence of treatment to improve local control of laBCCs are not yet defined. We hypothesized that consolidation RT after complete response to SHHis could reduce the risk of relapse at discontinuation. We present a case series of patients with laBCCs who achieved complete response (CR) after SHHi treatment and were treated with consolidation RT. Patients were evaluated by a skin cancer board. The closure RT technique and dosage were refined by a radiotherapist. Eleven patients were included. SHHis were prescribed for 5 months (range 4-11). Consolidation RT was performed after CR to SHHis and discontinuation. RT was delivered at a median dose of 45 Gy (range 40.5-66) in 10 fractions (range 9-33). With a median follow-up of 23 months, all patients maintained complete clinical response. This strategy was well tolerated with no grade 3 adverse events. SHHi treatment followed by RT consolidation after drug discontinuation seems effective and safe. Further studies are needed to develop a precise strategy for the management of laBCCs.

Challenges in Diagnosing and Initial Treatment of Advanced Eyelid Basal Cell Carcinoma in Rural Area: A Case Report

Introduction : Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common non-melanoma eyelid cancer with a high risk of recurrence. This case report discusses the management of extensive BCC in a rural setting with limited resources.
 Case Illustration : A 62-year-old Timorese female, presented to the hospital with a mass on the left periocular region. It appeared as a mole in the lower left eyelid and extended to the surrounding tissues over nine years. As a farmer, she was frequently sun-exposed. A blackish mass was found at the left orbit, buccal, and entire nose (8 x 7.5 cm) with an ulcerated surface and attached firmly. The right eye had bedside visual acuity >6/60, with palpebral edema, free eye movement, hyperemia nasal conjunctiva, and transparent cornea. The left eye is difficult to examine. Two submandibular lymphadenopathies were palpated. A Head CT scan showed a suspected malignant soft tissue mass with irregular thickening of soft tissue with ill-defined borders. Histopathology examination revealed a nodulocystic type of basal cell carcinoma.
 Discussion : Locally advanced BCC cases need a multidisciplinary approach. In a limited resources setting, the treatment highlights are histological diagnosis, complete surgical excision, and exenteration with margin control. From a broader perspective, the role of primary health care in educating and revering for early treatment is paramount.
 Conclusion : Prevention and early treatment are the most important factors in managing locally advanced BCC.

Hedgehog Inhibitors Beyond Clinical Complete Response in Basal Cell Carcinoma: Should I Stop or Should I Go?

In advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the issue of whether Hedgehog inhibitors (HHIs) should be stopped or not after clinical complete response (cCR) achievement remains an unmet clinical need. We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study across 7 Italian dermato-oncology units including patients with BCC who continued vismodegib after cCR between 2012 and 2019. We assessed the relationship between the duration of vismodegib intake (days to cCR [DTCR], days to stop after cCR [DTS], total treatment days [TTD]), and disease-free survival (DFS). Reasons to stop vismodegib were (R1) toxicity and (R2) disease recurrence. The relationship between DTCR, DTS, TTD, and DFS in the whole population and in R1 subgroup was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient (P < .05) and Bayesian statistics (BF10). Sixty-eight BCC patients with a median (m) age of 75.5 years (39-100) were included. Most patients were male (N = 43, 63%), without Gorlin syndrome (N = 56, 82%) and with head and neck area as primary site (N = 51, 75%). After cCR, out of 68 patients, 90% (N = 61/68) discontinued vismodegib: 82% (N = 50/61) due to toxicity (R1), and 18% (N = 11/61) due to recurrence (R2). Conversely, 10% (N = 7/68) continued vismodegib until last follow-up. In the whole population (N = 68), cCR was achieved with a mDTCR of 180.50 days. DFS showed a significant correlation with DTS (P < .01, BF10 = 39.2) and TTD (P < .01, BF10 = 35566), while it was not correlated to DTCR (BF10 < 0.1). The analysis of R1 subgroup (N = 50) confirmed these results. DFS correlated with DTS in all recurrent patients (N = 38, r = 0.44, P < .01) and in the recurrent patients who stopped vismodegib for toxicity (N = 26, r = 0.665, P < .01). DFS was longer when vismodegib was maintained for >2 months after cCR (mDFS > 2 months, N = 54 vs. ≤ 2 months, N = 14: 470 vs. 175 d, P < .01). Our retrospective results suggest that HHIs should be continued after cCR to improve DFS in BCC.

Post-operative interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) in advanced ocular surface and eyelid tumors as an alternative to surgical retreatment

Purpose The main purpose of treatment of advanced ocular surface and periocular malignant tumors is to eradicate the tumor while trying to preserve visual function and aesthetics. Our purpose is to describe the outcome of a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced ocular surface and periocular tumors treated surgically in first instance and then with postoperative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachiterapy). Materials and Methods We describe the clinicopathological features, treatments and outcome, in a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced tumors involving ocular surface (staging ≥ T2) and eyelids (staging ≥ T3), with involvement of periocular and/or orbit tissues. Patients were first surgically treated, most of them with incomplete excision, and then underwent a post-operative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachytherapy) as an alternative to more invasive and disfiguring surgical retreatment. Tumor location, risk factors, staging, histological features, and follow-up timing were analyzed. Results Three patients had advanced eyelid basal cell carcinomas, 2 patients were diagnosed with eyelid and conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas, 3 as sebaceous carcinomas, and 2 as primary conjunctival melanomas. The mean follow-up time from IRT to last clinical follow-up was 58.6 weeks, range 28.4–168 (median 43.65, IQR 28.9–72.9). Two patients - one with ocular surface SCC, the other with conjunctival melanoma - had a local recurrence 23.4 and 40,9 weeks after IRT, respectively. An overview of the current knowledge on adjuvant or post-operative IRT is also provided. Conclusions IRT can be considered an effective therapeutic option to avoid more invasive surgical retreatment in advanced tumors involving eyelids and ocular surface.

Cellular Deconvolution Reveals Unique Findings in Several Cell Type Fractions Within the Basal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Microenvironment

Introduction: Despite therapeutic advancements, locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinomas continue to carry poor prognoses and high recurrence rates. Current treatment options remain suboptimal due to limited efficacy and associated adverse events. The objectives of this study are to 1) characterize the basal cell carcinoma immune cell microenvironment and 2) identify novel therapeutic targets.&#x0D; Methods: Transcriptome data representing 25 basal cell carcinoma and 25 control tissue samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Cell type fraction estimates were derived by least-squares deconvolution. Population differences were determined by Mann-Whitney U test.&#x0D; Results: Most significantly, two deconvolution algorithms similarly observed greater B cell infiltration in tumor samples compared to normal tissue (P&lt;0.0001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Importantly, the results of this study provide new insight into the basal cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment and nominate testable immune cell populations for future therapeutic discovery. Study limitations include sample size and applicable background prediction levels of bulk deconvolution tools.

Signaling Pathways and Therapeutic Strategies in Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common human neoplasms world-wide. In detail, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequent malignancy in the fair-skinned population. The incidence of BCC remains difficult to assess due to the poor registration practice; however, it has been increasing in the last few years. Approximately, 85% of sporadic BCCs carry mutations in Hedgehog pathway genes, especially in PTCH, SUFU and SMO genes, which lead to the aberrant activation of GLI transcriptional factors, typically silent in cells of adult individuals. The management of advanced BCC (aBCC), both metastatic (mBCC) and locally advanced BCC (laBCC), not candidates for surgical excision or radiotherapy, remains challenging. The discovery of mutations in the Hh signaling pathway has paved the way for the development of Hh pathway inhibiting agents, such as vismodegib and sonidegib, which have represented a breakthrough in the aBCC management. However, the use of these agents is limited by the frequent occurrence of adverse events or the development of drug resistance. In this review, we thoroughly describe the current knowledge regarding the available options for the pharmacological management of aBCCs and provide a forward-looking update on novel therapeutic strategies that could enrich the therapeutic armamentarium of BCC in the near future.

Phase 2 open-label, multicenter, single-arm study of cemiplimab in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma after hedgehog inhibitor therapy: Extended follow-up

Phase 2 open-label, multicenter, single-arm study of cemiplimab in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma after hedgehog inhibitor therapy: Extended follow-up

Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Clinical, Genetic and Therapeutic Manifestations of a Rare and Complex Disease

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, also known as basal cell nevus syndrome or nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is a rare and heterogeneous genetic disease with a varied clinical presentation involving multiple systems and organs. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of this syndrome from a medical and scientific perspective. Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is characterized by an inherited predisposition to the formation of skin and skeletal tumors, as well as the development of jaw cysts, cleft palates, facial deformities, ocular malformations and other anomalies. At the genetic level, this syndrome is linked to mutations in the PTCH1 gene, which regulates the hedgehog signaling pathway, playing a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Early and accurate diagnosis of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is essential to prevent serious complications, such as advanced basal cell carcinomas and facial disfigurement. Molecular diagnostic strategies and therapeutic options, including reconstructive surgery, hedgehog pathway inhibitor therapy, and multidisciplinary patient management will be addressed. This review will also explore the psychological and social impact on patients and their families, as well as advances in genetic and therapeutic research that may open new perspectives for the management and prevention of this complex disease. Ultimately, detailed knowledge of Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is essential to improve the quality of life of those affected and to promote future research in this evolving field.

1150P Transforming growth factor-beta-1 and soluble co-inhibitory immune checkpoints as putative drivers of immune suppression in advanced basal cell carcinoma

1150P Transforming growth factor-beta-1 and soluble co-inhibitory immune checkpoints as putative drivers of immune suppression in advanced basal cell carcinoma

1177P Assessment of tumour burden reduction per photography vs magnetic resonance imaging in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma receiving sonidegib 200 mg

1177P Assessment of tumour burden reduction per photography vs magnetic resonance imaging in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma receiving sonidegib 200 mg

Surgery after sonidegib treatment achieves complete response in locally advanced basal cell carcinoma of the face.

Basal cell carcinoma accounts for 75% of skin cancers worldwide and is the most common malignancy in Caucasians. Since chronic ultraviolet exposure is the major risk factor for its development, sun-exposed areas such as the face are frequently affected. The gold-standard treatment is surgical excision. Radiotherapy may be considered in selected cases such as unresectable primary tumors. In some patients, when the risk of a significant functional/cosmetic deficit advises against both surgery and radiotherapy, target therapy (hedgehog pathway inhibitors) can be administered alone or in a neoadjuvant setting, to reduce the tumor size and make it eligible for surgery. Vismodegib as a neoadjuvant treatment before surgery has been investigated in a single, multicentre, open-label, phase II trial (VISMONEO); however, sonidegib has not yet been evaluated in this setting. We report the cases of two patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma of the face who achieved complete remission with sonidegib followed by a more limited surgical excision than would have been needed without target therapy.

1303 The Role of Cemiplimab in the Management of Locally Advanced and Metastatic Squamous Cell Skin Cancers: A Case Report

Abstract This case report discusses the use of cemiplimab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, as a single agent for management of locally advanced basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) in a 79-year-old male patient. The patient was initially referred to plastic surgery for facial lacerations closure after a fall and was incidentally found to have suspicious lesions on his central forehead, right lateral canthus, mid-face, &amp; anterior shoulder. He had history of skin lesions treated with photodynamic therapy, and recent palliative radiotherapy and fixation of a right humerus pathological fracture. Biopsy of the lesions confirmed locally advanced BCC and SCC malignancies, and underwent staging imaging, which showed evidence of osseous metastasis and lymphadenopathy. The patient was offered operative treatment with hemi-maxillectomy, orbital exenteration, and neck and axillary dissection but opted for immunotherapy drug with cemiplimab in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for treatment. The patient's skin lesions improved significantly after 3 rounds of treatment with shrinkage of the right lateral canthus and right midface lesions, apparent resolution of the forehead lesion, and improvement in the chronic shoulder wound, and no palpable regional lymphadenopathy. This case report adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of checkpoint inhibitors for SCCs and BCCs, particularly in cases where surgery and radiotherapy are not suitable. It also discusses current guidelines and socio-economic implications of this treatment. Overall, further research/trials are needed to determine optimal management strategies and improve outcomes for patients with SCC and BCC.