Topical Remetinostat Under Study in Basal Cell Carcinoma
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Kavita Y. Sarin, MD, PhD, of Stanford Medicine Outpatient Center, Redwood City, California, and colleagues reportedly performed the first proof-of-principle study of the topical pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC) remetinostat in patients with basal cell carcinoma. Published in Clinical Cancer Research, their results concluded that this HDAC inhibitor appears to be effective and well tolerated, with the potential to reduce disease burden.
“While further research is needed, our results suggest that remetinostat could be a safe and promising alternative to surgical treatment of basal cell carcinoma due to the high rate of complete responses we observed,” said Dr. Sarin in an American Association for Cancer Research press release. “However, if a therapy is to replace surgical treatment, it needs to not only induce a complete response, but also a durable one.”
This phase II trial focused on 49 tumors from 30 patients with basal cell carcinoma. Participants were instructed to apply a 1% remetinostat gel three times per day for 6 weeks. Tumor diameter measurements were taken at baseline, as well as at weeks 4 and 8. After week 8, tumors were excised and examined histologically.
A total of 6 partial and 17 complete responses were observed, yielding an overall response rate of 69.7%. The mean change in tumor diameter decrease was 62.3%, and the average change in tumor area decrease was 71.5%. Complete histologic resolution of basal cell carcinoma was demonstrated in 17 tumors, but 14 tumors showed evidence of microscopic residual tumor.
In the intent-to-treat population (n = 27 patients, n = 45 tumors), the overall response rate was 55.1%. The average change in tumor diameter decrease was 52.5%, and the mean change in tumor diameter decrease was 55.6%. Additionally, an increase in phosphorylation was observed. No serious or systemic adverse events were reported with the gel. The most common adverse event was an eczematous skin rash at the application site.
Disclosure: For full disclosures of the study authors, visit clincancerres.aacrjournals.org.
