gdc-0449 and Dermatofibrosarcoma

Over the past two decades, advances in the fields of cancer genetics and molecular biology have elucidated molecular pathways that cause numerous cutaneous malignancies. This in turn has spurred the rational design of molecularly targeted therapies. In this review, we discuss the molecular pathways critical to the development of nonmelanoma skin cancers and the novel pharmacologic agents that target them. Included is a review of vismodegib for basal cell carcinoma, cetuximab for squamous cell carcinomas, imatinib for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, and sirolimus for Kaposi's sarcoma.

Topics: Anilides; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzamides; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cetuximab; Dermatofibrosarcoma; Humans; Imatinib Mesylate; Piperazines; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Sarcoma, Kaposi; Sirolimus; Skin Neoplasms

Surgical treatment remains the standard of care for nonmelanoma skin cancer and is successful for the vast majority of patients with these tumors. The treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable nonmelanoma skin cancer, however, has until recently been based solely on traditional methods of chemotherapy and radiation. However, these methods have high rates of treatment failure, morbidity, and mortality, and alternative treatment modalities for patients with aggressive or advanced disease are needed. As in other areas of cancer therapeutics, recent research elucidating the molecular basis of cancer development, and the subsequent arrival of targeted molecular inhibitors for cancer therapy, have been met with much excitement. In this review, we seek to illuminate recent developments and future possibilities in the use of targeted molecular inhibitors for treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Topics: Anilides; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzamides; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Dermatofibrosarcoma; ErbB Receptors; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Imatinib Mesylate; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell; Piperazines; Pyridines; Pyrimidines; Skin Neoplasms; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck