Author Block: Vivian T. Yin, Lara Dunn.

Author Disclosure Block: V.T. Yin: Honoraria; Merz Pharmaceutical, Hoffman La-Roche. L. Dunn: Research grant; Eisai, Regeneron, Pfizer.

Abstract Body:

Purpose: To describe the tolerability and efficacy of using hedgehog inhibition for locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) prior to surgical excision.
Study Design: Retrospective case series.
Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with locally advanced BCC of the medial canthus, stage T3b or higher, were treated with hedgehog inhibitors for 4 months prior to proceeding with surgical resections. The surgical specimen is serially sectioned to determine regression pattern of the tumor. The primary outcome is the regression pattern of the tumor. The secondary outcome measures include tumor response and tolerability and side effects. Patients with baso-squamous subtype were excluded.
Results: The median age was 69 years (65-81 years) with 2:1 female to male. All patients tolerated the drug therapy for 4 months with no grade 3 or 4 side effects. All patients showed partial response to the therapy with no cases of complete response. Resected specimens did not show satellite lesions.
Conclusions: The use of hedgehog inhibitors prior to surgical excision show promise as an approach reducing surgical morbidity in locally advanced (T3b or greater) BCC. Additional study is needed to confirm the lack of satellite lesions and define how surgical margins should be decided with this approach.