# Tumor Immune Profiling to Optimize Clinical Trial Readiness in Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome

> **NIH NIH R21** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $202,500

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Germline mutations in PTCH underlie basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), a dominantly inherited disorder also
known as Gorlin-Goltz syndrome, in which affected individuals manifest accelerated Hh signaling, leading to
inordinate tumor burden that requires multiple, costly and often mutilating surgical procedures. Moreover, BCNS
patients develop multiple BCCs in sun-protected areas illustrating their unique tumor susceptibility. Except for
tumor-intrinsic Hh signaling, mechanisms underpinning the spontaneous growth and development of BCCs
remain unclear. Our group has fostered bench-to-bedside clinical trials with targeted agents in these patients,
ultimately leading to FDA approval of the SMO inhibitor (SMOi) vismodegib for treatment of advanced BCCs.
Despite substantial anti-tumor efficacy, a major challenge with SMOi has been the emergence of clinical
resistance and significant tumor recurrence, as well as intolerable side-effects causing half or more patients to
discontinue treatment. Additional preclinical and clinical studies from our group and others clearly indicate that
Hh signaling inhibition alone may be necessary but insufficient to permanently eradicate BCCs. This indicates a
need to develop novel treatment strategies to ameliorate the limitations of current SMOi’s to improve treatment
outcomes. Utilizing our genetically engineered Ptch1+/-/SKH-1 mouse model that faithfully recapitulates the
pathogenesis of human BCNS BCCs, we have demonstrated that (i) Hh signaling promotes accumulation of
FoxP3+ cells and increases pro-tumorigenic cytokines and chemokines in Ptch1-deficient skin; (ii) SMO inhibition
increases CD8+ cells and CXCL10/11, chemokines involved in T cell recruitment; and (iii) treatment of BCC-
bearing Ptch1+/-/SKH-1 with anti-PD-1 results in significant tumor regression. These data, together with recent
reports showing efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD-1) in human BCCs, strongly
support the role of immune mechanisms in BCC growth, and underscore the potential utility of combined SMO
and immune checkpoint blockade to reduce tumor burden. To facilitate a future multi-center, single-arm trial of
combined therapy of vismodegib and nivolumab (humanized monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibody) in BCNS patients,
this application aims to define tumor immune correlates relevant to BCNS microenvironments in Ptch1+/-/SKH-1
mice. In Aim 1, we will characterize immune cell populations and determine the immunologic mechanisms
relevant to Hh signaling, and in Aim 2, we will comprehensively define tumor immune profiles and elucidate
immunologic correlates predictive of anti-tumor responses to vismodegib and PD-1 blockade.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10046642
- **Project number:** 1R21TR003341-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID RINSEY BICKERS
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $202,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-21 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10046642

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10046642, Tumor Immune Profiling to Optimize Clinical Trial Readiness in Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (1R21TR003341-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10046642. Licensed CC0.

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