Experiences with SMO Antagonist Vismodegib for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

The study focused on the use of vismodegib, a Smo inhibitor, for treating 11 patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) over 4 years. The group included 2 males and 9 females, with an average age of 73 years, and 36% had Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. Vismodegib was administered for an average of 15 months, resulting in complete remission for 2 patients, while 5 others showed significant improvement despite side effects. However, 2 patients experienced a loss of efficacy after treatment suspension due to side effects. The main side effects included muscle cramps, dysgeusia, nausea, loss of appetite, and hair loss, which were managed with a combination of medications. The study concluded that vismodegib was effective in treating BCC but emphasized the importance of managing side effects to prevent therapy resistance and achieve long-term remission.