BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in humans. Vismodegib, a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, has proved its effectiveness in treating non-resectable advanced BCC. AIM: However, its action on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is unknown. We present three SCC cases developed into BCC in vismodegib-treated patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have described three cases of patients developing SCC during treatment by vismodegib for BCC. RESULTS: Patient 1 was treated with vismodegib for five facial BCC. Due to the progression of one of the lesions at month 3 (M3), a biopsy was performed and showed SCC. Patient 2 was treated with vismodegib for a large facial BCC. A biopsy was performed at M2 on a BCC area not responding to treatment and showed SCC. Patient 3 was treated with vismodegib for a BCC on the nose. Due to vismodegib ineffectiveness, a biopsy was performed and showed SCC. DISCUSSION: Two similar cases have been described in the literature. This could be due to the appearance of the squamous contingent of a metatypical BCC or to the squamous differentiation of stem cells through inhibition of the hedgehog pathway. CONCLUSION: In practice, any dissociated response of a BCC to vismodegib should be biopsied.
BACKGROUND:Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in humans. Vismodegib, a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, has proved its effectiveness in treating non-resectable advanced BCC. AIM: However, its action on squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is unknown. We present three SCC cases developed into BCC in vismodegib-treated patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have described three cases of patients developing SCC during treatment by vismodegib for BCC. RESULTS:Patient 1 was treated with vismodegib for five facial BCC. Due to the progression of one of the lesions at month 3 (M3), a biopsy was performed and showed SCC. Patient 2 was treated with vismodegib for a large facial BCC. A biopsy was performed at M2 on a BCC area not responding to treatment and showed SCC. Patient 3 was treated with vismodegib for a BCC on the nose. Due to vismodegib ineffectiveness, a biopsy was performed and showed SCC. DISCUSSION: Two similar cases have been described in the literature. This could be due to the appearance of the squamous contingent of a metatypical BCC or to the squamous differentiation of stem cells through inhibition of the hedgehog pathway. CONCLUSION: In practice, any dissociated response of a BCC to vismodegib should be biopsied.
Authors: Audris Chiang; Caroline Z Tan; François Kuonen; Luqman M Hodgkinson; Felicia Chiang; Raymond J Cho; Andrew P South; Jean Y Tang; Anne Lynn S Chang; Kerri E Rieger; Anthony E Oro; Kavita Y Sarin Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2019-06-15 Impact factor: 8.551
Authors: Xuesong Zhao; Tatyana Ponomaryov; Kimberly J Ornell; Pengcheng Zhou; Sukriti K Dabral; Ekaterina Pak; Wei Li; Scott X Atwood; Ramon J Whitson; Anne Lynn S Chang; Jiang Li; Anthony E Oro; Jennifer A Chan; Joseph F Kelleher; Rosalind A Segal Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2015-06-30 Impact factor: 12.701
Authors: François Kuonen; Noelle E Huskey; Gautam Shankar; Prajakta Jaju; Ramon J Whitson; Kerri E Rieger; Scott X Atwood; Kavita Y Sarin; Anthony E Oro Journal: J Invest Dermatol Date: 2019-01-29 Impact factor: 8.551
Authors: François Kuonen; Nancy Yanzhe Li; Daniel Haensel; Tiffany Patel; Sadhana Gaddam; Laura Yerly; Kerri Rieger; Sumaira Aasi; Anthony E Oro Journal: Cell Rep Date: 2021-10-05 Impact factor: 9.423