Basal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) represent the most common skin tumors in humans, with an increasing incidence worldwide. They occur preferentially in chronically UV-exposed areas in elderly fair-skinned individuals/Caucasians. Basal cell carcinomas originate from stem cell-like cells of the follicular epidermis. As they tend to be locally infiltrative and are known to have low metastatic potential they are referred to as semi-malignant tumors. There are various clinicopathologic subtypes, but all of them share the same genetic alterations within the aberrantly activated Hedgehog signaling pathway. With the exception of superficial BCCs, treatment consists of surgery or radiotherapy. A more recent treatment concept for patients with metastastic or unresectable BCCs consists of the use of hedgehog pathway inhibitors.