Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment – The Skin Cancer Foundation

Approved oral medications

Two oral medications are FDA-approved for treating adults with very rare cases of advanced BCC that are large or have penetrated the skin deeply, spread to other parts of the body or resisted multiple treatments and recurred.

Vismodegib (Erivedge)Sonidegib (Odomzo)

Both medications are targeted drugs taken by mouth. They work by blocking the hedgehog signaling pathway, a key factor in the development of BCC. In 2012, vismodegib became the first medicine ever approved by the FDA for treating advanced BCC. A second hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI) drug, sonidegib, was approved for advanced BCC in 2015.

Vismodegib is used for the extraordinarily rare cases of metastatic BCC or locally advanced BCC (tumors that have penetrated the skin deeply or frequently recurred) that either recur after surgery or radiation, or cannot be treated with surgery or radiation and have become dangerous or life-threatening.

Sonidegib is used in adults with BCC that is locally advanced, penetrating the skin deeply or repeatedly recurring, as well as in cases when other treatments such as surgery or radiation cannot be used.

Due to a risk of birth defects, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use either drug. Couples must use birth control if the woman is capable of becoming pregnant while her partner is taking the medication.

Scientists are also investigating several other targeted hedgehog inhibitors as potential treatments for locally advanced and metastatic BCC.

In February 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the intravenous immunotherapy medication,cemiplimab-rwlc(Libtayo) for treating patients with certain forms of advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Cemiplimab-rwlc(Libtayo)

Cemiplimabis a type of immunotherapy known as a checkpoint blockade therapy, which works by harnessing the power of the immune system to battle cancer. Under normal conditions, the immune system uses checkpoints, which are molecules that suppress production of T cells, the white blood cells that help protect the body from infection. These checkpoints keep T cells from overproducing and attacking normal cells in the body. However, cancer cells have the ability to keep those checkpoints active, suppressing the immune system so the cancer can grow and thrive. Cemiplimabblocks a particular checkpoint called PD-1 from working, so the immune system can releasemassive amounts of T cells to attack and kill cancer cells.

Find out more aboutcemiplimab.

Cemiplimabis used to treat patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI) or for whom an HHI is not appropriate. Full approval was granted for patients with locally advanced BCC and accelerated approval was granted for patients with metastatic BCC.

Link:
Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment - The Skin Cancer Foundation