# ERIVANCE BCC: efficacy and safety of vismodegib in advanced basal cell carcinoma

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-erivance-vismodegib-sekulic-nejm-2012/  
OnCo record `paper-erivance-vismodegib-sekulic-nejm-2012` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib shrank tumours in 43 percent of patients with locally advanced and 30 percent with metastatic basal cell carcinoma, becoming the first drug approved for advanced basal cell carcinoma.

## Summary

Phase 2 study of 104 patients with metastatic (33) or locally advanced (71) basal cell carcinoma unsuitable for surgery or radiotherapy treated with vismodegib 150 mg daily.

Objective response was 30 percent in metastatic and 43 percent in locally advanced disease (21 percent complete), with median duration of response of 7.6 months; muscle spasms, alopecia, dysgeusia and weight loss were almost universal and led many patients to stop.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-17
- Journal: New England Journal of Medicine
- Year: 2012
- DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1113713
- Authors: Sekulic A, Migden MR, Oro AE, et al.
- Findings: Objective response 43 percent (locally advanced) and 30 percent (metastatic).; Median duration of response 7.6 months.
- What it means: Vismodegib (and sonidegib) is the first-line systemic treatment for locally advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma, often given intermittently to manage side effects.
- Caveats: Single-arm; toxicity-related discontinuation is common.; Teratogenic; strict contraception required.

## Sources

- N Engl J Med 2012: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1113713
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22670903/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Locally advanced and metastatic basal cell carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/locally-advanced-bcc/)
- drugs: [Vismodegib](https://onco.cc/drugs/vismodegib/)
- trials: [ERIVANCE BCC](https://onco.cc/trials/erivance/)
- journals: [New England Journal of Medicine](https://onco.cc/journals/nejm/)

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