Vismodegib: A smoothened inhibitor for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma.

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Aditya S, Rattan A

Vismodegib: A smoothened inhibitor for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013 Oct;4(4):365-8. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.120685.

PubMed ID

24350028 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common skin cancer in humans, is rising. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment but there is no standard of care for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Hedgehog signaling proteins are critical for cell growth and differentiation during embryogenesis; Hh pathway is silenced in adults. Dysregulated or aberrant Hh signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of BCC. This hyperactive pathway can be inhibited by use of smoothened inhibitors such as vismodegib. Food and drug administration approved this oral, once-daily medication in 2012 to treat adults with metastatic BCC or locally advanced, recurrent BCC after surgery and also for patients with locally advanced BCC who are not candidates for surgery or radiation treatment. Clinical studies have shown it to be highly efficacious and the most common adverse effects include, muscle spasms, alopecia and dysgeusia. Use of targeted biologic modifiers, exemplified by Hh directed therapeutics offer a new hope to patients with high-surgical morbidity or inoperable tumors.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Vismodegib

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Vismodegib	Smoothened homolog	Protein	Humans	Yes	Antagonist Inhibitor	Details