A report from the American Assocation of Cancer Research details the effectivenes of the experimental skin cancer drug vismodegib. The drug targets a pathway known as 'Hedgehog'. This processes controlled by Hedgehog are important in development and the inhibitor is targeted at Smoothened, a component of this pathway.
The drug has shown very good activity against basal cell carcinoma, even advanced cases. Ongoing clinical trials are looking at the ability of the drug to prevent the development of basal cell carcinoma in patients with a hereditary predisposition to the cancers, basal cell nevus syndrome. The outcomes have been very positive and the company that owns the compound (Roche) plans on seeking approval for the drug in the near future.
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