Prevalence of genetic alterations in basal cell carcinoma patients resistant to Hedgehog pathway inhibitors: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a prevalent form of skin cancer that can be localized or metastatic. Current evidence supports the use of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitors for locally advanced or metastatic BCC with resistance due to genetic alterations in the Hh pathway. This systematic review evaluated the prevalence of genetic alterations in Hh pathway genes in BCC. Materials and methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across four databases: PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and the Cochrane Library. We included articles reporting genetic alterations in patients with locally advanced or metastatic BCC resistant to Hh pathway inhibitors. Results: We included three prospective cohort studies encompassing 27 samples, all of which were resistant to vismodegib treatment. The most prevalent genetic mutations in the Hh pathway were in PTCH1, SMO and TP53, with a pooled prevalence of 44.44%. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the prevalence of genetic alterations in the Hh pathway in BCC and offers insights into the mechanisms involved in treatment resistance. Understanding the high resistance rates of these genes may facilitate the development of more effective targeted therapies for BCC.