Broader impacts and limitations

Basal cell carcinoma has provided science with an important example of how effective the application of molecular biology can be in the treatment of cancers. Basal cell carcinoma has been treated primarily through surgical intervention, such as excision and Mohs micrographic surgery, or radiation therapy. As discussed, the discovery of its linkage to the abnormal activity has led to the development of targeted drugs known as Hedgehog inhibitors. These Hedgehog inhibitors have been used not only to treat BCC, but to treat other types of cancers that are known to be associated with the Hedgehog pathway, such as medulloblastoma, and to support the treatment of other cancers, such as pancreatic cancer (Ngueyn & Cho, 2022). These treatments can be used to help patients who may not be ideal canidates for surgical procedures. The main limitations of these inhibitors, including tumor resistance, and side effects, such as muscle cramps, hair loss, and fatigue still apply (Stratigos et al., 2021).