Itraconazole in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma: A case-based review of the literature

Itraconazole is as an anti-fungal agent with the ability to inhibit the Hedgehog signalling pathway, which makes it a candidate drug that can be repurposed for the treatment of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs). We present a case of metastatic BCC, treated with oral itraconazole 100 mg twice daily, that resulted in sustained partial regression of metastatic pulmonary nodules. A systematic review on the clinical outcomes of BCCs treated with itraconazole highlights that current evidence for its clinical application remains limited and that this is the first case report where itraconazole monotherapy has achieved favourable response in metastatic BCC.

Automated summary

Itraconazole, an anti-fungal agent, shows potential as a candidate drug for the treatment of basal cell carcinomas by inhibiting the Hedgehog signalling pathway. Limited evidence exists for its clinical application in BCC treatment, but a case report demonstrated favorable response in metastatic BCC patients treated with itraconazole monotherapy.