Treatment of locally advanced and metastatic basosquamous carcinoma, navigating among sonic hedgehog pathway inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy: A case series and literature review

Abstract

Locally advanced (laBSCs) and metastatic basosquamous carcinomas (mBSCs) represent a therapeutic challenge. By definition, these forms are not amenable to surgery or radiotherapy, but according to literature reports, sonic hedgehog pathway inhibitors (HHIs), anti-programmed death 1 receptor antibodies (anti-PD-1), and other treatment approaches involving chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy have been used. This work features 5 real-life cases of advanced BSCs, treated at the Dermato-Oncology Unit of Trieste (Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste). In addition, a review of the current treatment options reported in the literature for laBSC and mBSC is provided, collecting a total of 17 patients. According to these preliminary data, HHIs such as sonidegib and vismodegib could represent a safe and effective first line of treatment, while the anti-PD-1 cemiplimab may be useful as a second-line option. Chemotherapy and combined approaches involving surgery and radiotherapy have been also reported to be suitable in some patients.

Keywords: cemiplimab; chemotherapy; locally advanced basosquamous carcinoma; metastatic basosquamous carcinoma; nivolumab; radiotherapy; review; sonic hedgehog pathway inhibitors; sonidegib; surgery; treatment; vismodegib.