New developments in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma: update on current and emerging treatment options with a focus on vismodegib

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer worldwide. Although most BCCs can be treated by relatively simple surgical or nonsurgical methods, some patients with BCC may eventually develop advanced disease which can either be locally destructive or even include metastatic spread. The present review summarizes the current literature on the treatment of both early and advanced BCC with a focus on the hedgehog inhibitor vismodegib which has become an integral part of the management of patients with advanced BCC since its regulatory approval in 2012.