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Desai R, Pelargos PE, Dunn IF. Chordoma: Genetics and Contemporary Management. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5877. [PMID: 38892063 PMCID: PMC11172617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Chordomas, arising from notochord remnants, are rare neoplasms with aggressive growth patterns despite their histologically low-grade nature. This review explores their embryological origins, molecular markers like brachyury, and genetic alterations driving pathogenesis. Diagnosis relies on advanced imaging and biopsy confirmation due to overlapping features with chondrosarcoma. The WHO classification distinguishes conventional, dedifferentiated, and poorly differentiated chordomas, each with distinct prognostic implications. Recent genomic analyses uncovered recurrent mutations in PI3K signaling pathways and chromatin remodeling genes, informing prognostic models. Surgery remains the cornerstone of treatment, though adjuvant radiation complements surgical resection. Although chordomas are generally considered refractory to medical therapy, emerging targeted molecular strategies show potential promise in ongoing trials. This review aims to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of chordomas, guiding clinicians in diagnosis, treatment, and prognostication for improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ian F. Dunn
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (R.D.); (P.E.P.)
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2
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Martinez Moreno M, Wang E, Schroeder C, Sullivan P, Gokaslan Z. Shedding light on emerging therapeutic targets for chordoma. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:705-713. [PMID: 37647357 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2248382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite encouraging advances in radiation and surgical treatment, chordomas remain resistant to chemotherapy and local recurrence is common. Although the primary mechanism of recurrence is local, metastatic disease occurs in a small subset of patients. Recurrence may also occur along the surgical trajectory if care is not taken to fully excise the open biopsy pathway. There is increasing morbidity with reoperation upon disease recurrence, and radiation is an option for cytoreduction in primary disease or for recurrent disease, although toxicity may be observed with high-dose therapies. Given these challenges, targeted chemotherapeutic agents for postoperative adjuvant treatment are needed. AREAS COVERED In this review, we summarize the genetic drivers of chordoma and the state of the current research in chordoma immunotherapy and epigenetics. EXPERT OPINION Chordoma is a heterogenous tumor that should be targeted from different angles and the study of its characteristics, from molecular to immunological to epigenetic, is necessary. Combining different approaches, such as studying noninvasive patient methylation patterns with tissue-based molecular and drug screening, can transform patient care by guiding treatment decisions based on prognostic mechanisms from different sources, while helping individualize surgical planning and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elaina Wang
- Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, USA
| | | | - Patricia Sullivan
- Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ziya Gokaslan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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3
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Kesari S, Wang F, Juarez T, Ashili S, Patro CPK, Carrillo J, Nguyen M, Truong J, Levy J, Sommer J, Freed DM, Xiu J, Takasumi Y, Bouffet E, Gill JM. Activity of pemetrexed in pre-clinical chordoma models and humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7317. [PMID: 37147496 PMCID: PMC10163028 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare slow growing tumors, arising from embryonic remnants of notochord with a close predilection for the axial skeleton. Recurrence is common and no effective standard medical therapy exists. Thymidylate synthase (TS), an intracellular enzyme, is a key rate-limiting enzyme of DNA biosynthesis and repair which is primarily active in proliferating and metabolically active cells. Eighty-four percent of chordoma samples had loss of TS expression which may predict response to anti-folates. Pemetrexed suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting enzymes involved in folate metabolism, resulting in decreased availability of thymidine which is necessary for DNA synthesis. Pemetrexed inhibited growth in a preclinical mouse xenograft model of human chordoma. We report three cases of metastatic chordoma that had been heavily treated previously with a variety of standard therapies with poor response. In two cases, pemetrexed was added and objective responses were observed on imaging with one patient on continuous treatment for > 2 years with continued shrinkage. One case demonstrated tumor growth after treatment with pemetrexed. The two cases which had a favorable response had a loss of TS expression, whereas the one case with progressive disease had TS present. These results demonstrate the activity of pemetrexed in recurrent chordoma and warrant a prospective clinical trial which is ongoing (NCT03955042).
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kesari
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, China.
| | - Tiffany Juarez
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | | | - C Pawan K Patro
- CureScience, San Diego, CA, USA
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jose Carrillo
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Minhdan Nguyen
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Judy Truong
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Joan Levy
- Chordoma Foundation, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Yuki Takasumi
- Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Eric Bouffet
- The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jaya M Gill
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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Passeri T, Dahmani A, Masliah-Planchon J, El Botty R, Courtois L, Vacher S, Marangoni E, Nemati F, Roman-Roman S, Adle-Biassette H, Mammar H, Froelich S, Bièche I, Decaudin D. In vivo efficacy assessment of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib and the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib in human chordoma xenografts. Front Oncol 2022; 12:960720. [PMID: 36505864 PMCID: PMC9732546 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.960720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Management of advanced chordomas remains delicate considering their insensitivity to chemotherapy. Homozygous deletion of the regulatory gene CDKN2A has been described as the most frequent genetic alteration in chordomas and may be considered as a potential theranostic marker. Here, we evaluated the tumor efficacy of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib, as well as the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib, in three chordoma patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to validate and identify novel therapeutic approaches. Methods From our chordoma xenograft panel, we selected three models, two of them harboring a homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/2B genes, and the last one a PBRM1 pathogenic variant (as control). For each model, we tested the palbociclib and volasertib drugs with pharmacodynamic studies together with RT-PCR and RNAseq analyses. Results For palbociclib, we observed a significant tumor response for one of two models harboring the deletion of CDKN2A/2B (p = 0.02), and no significant tumor response in the PBRM1-mutated PDX; for volasertib, we did not observe any response in the three tested models. RT-PCR and RNAseq analyses showed a correlation between cell cycle markers and responses to palbociclib; finally, RNAseq analyses showed a natural enrichment of the oxidative phosphorylation genes (OxPhos) in the palbociclib-resistant PDX (p = 0.02). Conclusion CDK4/6 inhibition appears as a promising strategy to manage advanced chordomas harboring a loss of CDKN2A/2B. However, further preclinical studies are strongly requested to confirm it and to understand acquired or de novo resistance to palbociclib, in the peculiar view of a targeting of the oxidative phosphorylation genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Passeri
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France,Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France,Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France,*Correspondence: Thibault Passeri,
| | - Ahmed Dahmani
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | | | - Rania El Botty
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Laura Courtois
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Vacher
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Elisabetta Marangoni
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Fariba Nemati
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Sergio Roman-Roman
- Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Homa Adle-Biassette
- Department of Pathology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Hamid Mammar
- Department of Radiotherapy - Proton Therapy Center, Institut Curie, Paris-Saclay University, Orsay, France
| | - Sébastien Froelich
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Ivan Bièche
- Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Didier Decaudin
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France,Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France
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5
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Young K, Nielsen T, Bulosan H, Thorne TJ, Ogasawara CT, Birkeland AC, Tang DM, Wu AW, Steele TO. Metastatic skull base chordoma: A systematic review. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol 2022; 7:1280-1291. [PMID: 36258855 PMCID: PMC9575061 DOI: 10.1002/lio2.906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective/Hypothesis To investigate the clinical features, management strategies and outcomes for patients with metastatic primary skull base chordomas. Study Design Systematic review. Methods A systematic search through Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost (CINAHL) was conducted without restriction on dates. After study screening and full‐text assessment, two authors independently extracted all data using a pre‐established abstraction form. Results Forty cases were included from 38 studies. The average age (standard deviation [SD]) of the sample at presentation was 28.5 (23.3) and was equally distributed across genders. The average time (SD) between initial diagnosis to local recurrence was 40.1 (60.3) months. The average time (SD) from primary tumor detection to the diagnosis of metastatic disease was 55.2 (49.0) months. The most common subsite for metastatic spread were the lungs (32.5%). Of the 33 patients with data on outcomes, 48.5% were found to have expired by the time of publication. The median overall survival was estimated to be 84 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 62.3–105.7). Conclusions The most common subsites for metastatic spread of skull base chordoma were the lungs and bone. Overall survival for patients in the current cohort was a median of 84 months, with no significant differences noted when stratifying by the extent of surgery or the site of metastases. Level of Evidence 3a
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurtis Young
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Torbjoern Nielsen
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Hannah Bulosan
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Tyler J. Thorne
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine Honolulu Hawaii USA
| | - Christian T. Ogasawara
- Department of Neurosurgery University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Galveston Texas USA
| | - Andrew C. Birkeland
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of California Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
| | - Dennis M. Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles California USA
| | - Arthur W. Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles California USA
| | - Toby O. Steele
- Department of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery University of California Davis Medical Center Sacramento California USA
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Xiao D, Huang Y, Huang S, Zhuang J, Chen P, Wang Y, Zhang L. Targeted delivery of cancer drug paclitaxel to chordomas tumor cells via an RNA nanoparticle harboring an EGFR aptamer. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2022; 212:112366. [PMID: 35144131 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2022.112366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Paclitaxel has been extensively used in clinics for cancer treatment. However, its limited solubility in aqueous solution and high occurrence of side effects have also been widely reported. In this study, we constructed a biocompatible RNA nanoparticle delivery system (3WJ-EGFRapt) that includes 3WJ (3-way junction) nanoparticle with a size of 4.85 ± 0.59 nm as a backbone and an EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) aptamer for specific targeting to chordomas cells, which owns the encapsulation ability of drug paclitaxel (PTX) for cancer therapy. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry results confirmed 3WJ-EGFRapt nanoparticle exhibited excellent specific targeting to chordomas cell U-CH2 which is an EGFR(+) cell line; while the 3WJ nanoparticle lose the targeted ability. Both of the two nanoparticles own no sensitivity to lung cancer cell H520 which is an EGFR(-) cell line. Moreover, the 3WJ-EGFRapt nanoparticle encapsulated drug PTX could enhance the inhibition efficiency of chordomas tumor cells U-CH2 as compared to free PTX alone. This work demonstrates that RNA-3WJ constructed with a targeting aptamer provides a compromising targeted drug delivery ability on chordomas cells for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yongxiong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Shuaihao Huang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jianxiong Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - P Chen
- Advanced Materials Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China; Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Yi Wang
- Nanopeptide (Qingdao) Biotechnology LTD, Qingdao, Shandong 266000, China.
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada.
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7
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Baldi GG, Lo Vullo S, Grignani G, Vincenzi B, Badalamenti G, Mastore M, Buonomenna C, Morosi C, Barisella M, Frezza AM, Provenzano S, Simeone N, Picozzi F, Mariani L, Casali PG, Stacchiotti S. Weekly cisplatin with or without imatinib in advanced chordoma: A retrospective case-series analysis from the Italian Rare Cancers Network. Cancer 2022; 128:1439-1448. [PMID: 35026050 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To report on a retrospective case-series analysis of weekly cisplatin (wCDDP) as a single agent or combined with imatinib (wCDDP/I) in patients with advanced chordoma treated within the Italian Rare Cancer Network. METHODS Adult patients with a diagnosis of advanced, brachyury-positive chordoma, treated from April 2007 to October 2020 with wCDDP or wCDDP/I were retrospectively identified. Imatinib was withheld at the same time as wCDDP. Response according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) were analyzed. RESULTS Thirty-three consecutive patients were identified (wCDDP as front-line n = 8 [24.2%]; wCDDP as a further line n = 25 [75.8%]; prior imatinib n = 25 [75.8%]; evidence of progression before starting wCDDP n = 33). Of 32 patients evaluable for response (wCDDP, n = 22 [68.8%]; wCDDP/I, n = 10 [31.3%]), best response was stable disease (SD) in 27 patients (84.3%) and progression in 5 patients (15.6%). At a median follow-up of 54 months, the median OS (m-OS) was 30.3 months (interquartile range [IQR], 18.1-56.6), the m-PFS was 8.0 months (IQR, 5.1-17.0), the 6-month PFS rate was 65.2%, and the 12-month PFS rate was 30.3%. Of 22 patients who received wCDDP, the best response was SD in 18 patients (81.8%) and progression in 4 patients (18.2%), and the m-PFS was 8.0 months (IQR, 5.1-17.0 months). Of 10 patients who received treatment with wCDDP/I, the best response was SD in 9 patients (90%) and progression in 1 patient (10%), and the m-PFS was 9.3 months (IQR, 4.9-26.5 months). CONCLUSIONS This series suggests that wCDDP, both as a single agent and combined with imatinib, has antitumor activity in chordoma. Although no dimensional responses were observed, 65% and 30% of previously progressive patients were progression-free at 6 and 12 months, respectively. A prospective study is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo G Baldi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Prato, Prato, Italy
| | - Salvatore Lo Vullo
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Trial Organization, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Grignani
- Division of Medical Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo (TO), Italy
| | - Bruno Vincenzi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Campus Biomedico University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Badalamenti
- Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Oral Sciences - Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Ciriaco Buonomenna
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Morosi
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Barisella
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Frezza
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Provenzano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Simeone
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Fernanda Picozzi
- Deparment of Medical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale dei Colli Monaldi-Cotugno, Naples, Italy.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Mariani
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Trial Organization, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo G Casali
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Stacchiotti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
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Wedekind MF, Widemann BC, Cote G. Chordoma: Current status, problems, and future directions. Curr Probl Cancer 2021; 45:100771. [PMID: 34266694 DOI: 10.1016/j.currproblcancer.2021.100771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare tumor that occurs along the axial spine in pediatrics and adults, with an incidence of approximately 350 cases per year in the United States. While typically described as slow-growing, many patients will eventually develop loco-regional relapse or metastatic disease with few treatment options. Despite numerous efforts over the last 10+ years, effective treatments for patients are lacking. As subtypes of chordoma are identified and described in more detail, further knowledge regarding the natural history of each type, tumor location, age differences, genomic variability, and an overall better understanding of chordoma may be the key to developing meaningful clinical trials and effective therapies for patients with chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Frances Wedekind
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
| | - Brigitte C Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Gregory Cote
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
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9
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Pennington Z, Ehresman J, McCarthy EF, Ahmed AK, Pittman PD, Lubelski D, Goodwin CR, Sciubba DM. Chordoma of the sacrum and mobile spine: a narrative review. Spine J 2021; 21:500-517. [PMID: 33589095 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Chordoma is a notochord-derived primary tumor of the skull base and vertebral column known to affect 0.08 to 0.5 per 100,000 persons worldwide. Patients commonly present with mechanical, midline pain with or without radicular features secondary to nerve root compression. Management of these lesions has classically revolved around oncologic resection, defined by en bloc resection of the lesion with negative margins as this was found to significantly improve both local control and overall survival. With advancement in radiation modalities, namely the increased availability of focused photon therapy and proton beam radiation, high-dose (>50 Gy) neoadjuvant or adjuvant radiotherapy is also becoming a standard of care. At present chemotherapy does not appear to have a role, but ongoing investigations into the ontogeny and molecular pathophysiology of chordoma promise to identify therapeutic targets that may further alter this paradigm. In this narrative review we describe the epidemiology, histopathology, diagnosis, and treatment of chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zach Pennington
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jeff Ehresman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Edward F McCarthy
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - A Karim Ahmed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Patricia D Pittman
- Department of Neuropathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Daniel Lubelski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - C Rory Goodwin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Daniel M Sciubba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Meyer 5-185A, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
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10
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Verma S, Vadlamani SP, Shamim SA, Barwad A, Rastogi S, Raj STA. Partial response to erlotinib in a patient with imatinib-refractory sacral chordoma. Clin Sarcoma Res 2020; 10:28. [PMID: 33308288 PMCID: PMC7733273 DOI: 10.1186/s13569-020-00149-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordoma is a rare, slow growing and locally aggressive mesenchymal neoplasm with uncommon distant metastases. It is a chemo-resistant disease with surgery and radiotherapy being the mainstay in treatment of localized disease. In advanced disease imatinib has a role. We report a case of metastatic sacral chordoma with symptomatic and radiological response to erlotinib post-progression on imatinib. Case presentation A 48-year-old male with a sacral chordoma underwent partial sacrectomy followed by post-operative radiotherapy. Upon recurrence he received palliative radiotherapy to hemipelvis and was offered therapy with imatinib. However, the disease was refractory to imatinib and he was started on treatment with erlotinib—showing a partial response on imaging at two months. He is currently doing well at 13 months since start of erlotinib. Conclusions As seen in previously reported cases, erlotinib is a therapeutic option in advanced chordoma, even in imatinib refractory cases and thus warrants exploration of its therapeutic role in prospective clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurav Verma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Surya Prakash Vadlamani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Shamim Ahmed Shamim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Adarsh Barwad
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sameer Rastogi
- Sarcoma Medical Oncology Clinic, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - S T Arun Raj
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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11
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Gill CM, Fowkes M, Shrivastava RK. Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Chordomas: A Review of the Literature in the Genomic Era. Neurosurgery 2020; 86:E118-E123. [PMID: 31504814 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyz342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare primary malignant tumors of the bones that occur along the skull base, spine, and sacrum. Long-term survival and neurological outcome continue to be challenging with continued low percentages of long-term survival. Recent studies have used genome, exome, transcriptome, and proteome sequencing to assess the mutational profile of chordomas. Most notably, Brachyury, or T-protein, has been shown to be an early mutational event in chordoma evolution. Clinically actionable mutations, including in the PI3K pathway, were identified. Preliminary evidence suggests that there may be mutational differences associated with primary tumor location. In this study, we review the therapeutic landscape of chordomas and discuss emerging targets in the genomic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey M Gill
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Mary Fowkes
- Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Raj K Shrivastava
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Chordoma is an exceedingly rare subtype of bone sarcoma. This review aims to provide a comprehensive insight into chordoma epidemiology, and an update on the recent advances in disease, biology and medical therapies. RECENT FINDINGS The incidence of chordoma is approximately 0.08/100 000 and the 5-year overall age-adjusted relative survival is 72% in the United States and 61% in Europe. Over the last years, significant steps forwards have been done in the comprehension of chordoma complexity, with insights gained into the biology and morphology of this disease. New entities have been described and potentially druggable molecular targets identified. This is becoming all the more relevant today, as new potentially active agents are under development. SUMMARY Chordoma is a complex disease because of its rarity, biological heterogeneity and peculiar clinical behaviour. Despite the progress done, the outcome in this disease remains unsatisfactory and the identification of active systemic treatments remains an urgent, unmet medical need.
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13
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Kremenevski N, Schlaffer SM, Coras R, Kinfe TM, Graillon T, Buchfelder M. Skull Base Chordomas and Chondrosarcomas. Neuroendocrinology 2020; 110:836-847. [PMID: 32541136 DOI: 10.1159/000509386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Skull base chordomas account for less than 0.2% and chondrosarcomas for less than 0.15% of all intracranial tumors. Although their clinical and imaging presentations are similar, they derive from different origins. Chordomas arise from embryonic remnants of the primitive notochord and chondrosarcomas from primitive mesenchymal cells or from the embryonic rest of the cranial cartilaginous matrix. Both entities are characterized by infiltration and destruction of the surrounding bone and soft tissue and a high locoregional recurrence rate. Chondrosarcomas, when treated with similar complex strategies, display a much better prognosis than chordomas. The overall survival is approximately 65% for chordomas and 80% for chondrosarcomas at 5 years and 30 and 50%, respectively, at 10 years. Chordomas are divided into the following 3 histological types: classical (conventional), chondroid, and dedifferentiated. Chondrosarcomas have conventional, mesenchymal, clear cell, and dedifferentiated subgroups. Both tumor entities often present with nonspecific symptoms, and headaches are the most reported initial symptom. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are required to determine the tumor localization and the extent of tumor growth. The treatment philosophy is to maximize tumor resection, minimize morbidity, and preserve function. Neurosurgical approaches commonly used for the resection of intracranial chordomas and chondrosarcomas are transsphenoidal, transbasal, cranio-orbitozygomatic, transzygomatic extended middle fossa, transcondylar, and transmaxillary approaches. Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are not sensitive to chemotherapy and there are no approved drugs for their treatment. The present treatment concept is a combination of surgical resection with a maximal excision and preserving patients' quality of life by adjuvant radiotherapy for both chordomas and chondrosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kremenevski
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany,
| | | | - Roland Coras
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Mehari Kinfe
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Graillon
- Department of Neurosurgery, Aix-Marseille University, APHM, CHU Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Michael Buchfelder
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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14
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[From bench to bedside for new treatment paradigms in chordomas: An update]. Bull Cancer 2019; 107:129-135. [PMID: 31882268 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2019.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Chordomas are rare malignant tumours, which typically occur in the axial skeleton and skull base. They arise from embryonic remnants of the notochord. They constitute less than 5 % of primary bone tumours. They are characterised by their locally aggressive potential with high frequency of recurrences and a median overall survival of 6 years. The initial therapeutic strategy must be discussed in an expert centre and may involve surgery, preoperative radiotherapy, exclusive radiotherapy or therapeutic abstention. Despite this, more than 50 % of patients will be facing recurrences with few therapeutic options available at this advanced stage. This review aims to outline current treatment options available in chordomas, as well as discussing potentiality of new therapeutic approaches through their molecular characterization and the comprehension of their immunological environment.
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15
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Meng T, Jin J, Jiang C, Huang R, Yin H, Song D, Cheng L. Molecular Targeted Therapy in the Treatment of Chordoma: A Systematic Review. Front Oncol 2019; 9:30. [PMID: 30775316 PMCID: PMC6367227 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Chordoma is a rare bone malignancy that affects the spine and skull base. Treatment dilemma leads to a high rate of local relapse and distant metastases. Molecular targeted therapy (MTT) is an option for advanced chordoma, but its therapeutic efficacy and safety have not been investigated systematically. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted on studies reporting MTT regimens for chordoma. Methods: Clinical trials, case series and case reports on chordoma MTT were identified using MEDLINE, Cochrane library and EMBASE, and systematically reviewed. Data on clinical outcomes, such as median overall survival, progression-free survival, response rate and adverse events (AEs) were extracted and analyzed. Results: Thirty-three eligible studies were selected for the systematic review, which indicated that imatinib and erlotinib were the most frequently used molecular targeted inhibitors (MTIs) for chordoma. For PDGFR-positive and/or EGFR-positive chordoma, clinical benefits were achieved with acceptable AEs. Monotherapy is preferred as the first-line of treatment, and combined drug therapy as the second-line treatment. In addition, the brachyury vaccine has shown promising results. Conclusions: The selection of MTIs for patients with advanced or relapsed chordoma should be based on gene mutation screening and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Monotherapy of TKIs is recommended as the first-line management, and combination therapy (two TKIs or TKI plus mTOR inhibitor) may be the choice for drug-resistant chordoma. Brachyury vaccine is a promising therapeutic strategy and requires more clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Meng
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, Shanghai, China.,Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiali Jin
- Department of Central Laboratory, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Jiang
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, BIDMC Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Cancer Research Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Runzhi Huang
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huabin Yin
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, Shanghai, China.,Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianwen Song
- Shanghai Bone Tumor Institution, Shanghai, China.,Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liming Cheng
- Division of Spine, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration, Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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16
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Liang WS, Dardis C, Helland A, Sekar S, Adkins J, Cuyugan L, Enriquez D, Byron S, Little AS. Identification of therapeutic targets in chordoma through comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analyses. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2018; 4:mcs.a003418. [PMID: 30322893 PMCID: PMC6318766 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a003418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare, orphan cancer arising from embryonal precursors of bone. Surgery and radiotherapy (RT) provide excellent local control, often at the price of significant morbidity because of the structures involved and the need for relatively high doses of RT; however, recurrence remains high. Although our understanding of the genetic changes that occur in chordoma is evolving rapidly, this knowledge has yet to translate into treatments. We performed comprehensive DNA (paired tumor/normal whole-exome and shallow whole-genome) and RNA (tumor whole-transcriptome) next-generation sequencing analyses of archival sacral and clivus chordoma specimens. Incorporation of transcriptomic data enabled the identification of gene overexpression and expressed DNA alterations, thus providing additional support for potential therapeutic targets. In three patients, we identified alterations that may be amenable to off-label FDA-approved treatments for other tumor types. These alterations include FGFR1 overexpression (ponatinib, pazopanib) and copy-number duplication of CDK4 (palbociclib) and ERBB3 (gefitinib). In a third patient, germline DNA demonstrated predicted pathogenic changes in CHEK2 and ATM, which may have predisposed the patient to developing chordoma at a young age and may also be associated with potential sensitivity to PARP inhibitors because of homologous recombination repair deficiency. Last, in the fourth patient, a missense mutation in IGF1R was identified, suggesting potential activity for investigational anti-IGF1R strategies. Our findings demonstrate that chordoma patients present with aberrations in overlapping pathways. These results provide support for targeting the IGF1R/FGFR/EGFR and CDK4/6 pathways as treatment strategies for chordoma patients. This study underscores the value of comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analysis in the development of rational, individualized treatment plans for chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie S Liang
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Christopher Dardis
- Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA
| | - Adrienne Helland
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Shobana Sekar
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Jonathan Adkins
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Lori Cuyugan
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Daniel Enriquez
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Sara Byron
- Integrated Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, USA
| | - Andrew S Little
- Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA
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17
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Stacchiotti S, Gronchi A, Fossati P, Akiyama T, Alapetite C, Baumann M, Blay JY, Bolle S, Boriani S, Bruzzi P, Capanna R, Caraceni A, Casadei R, Colia V, Debus J, Delaney T, Desai A, Dileo P, Dijkstra S, Doglietto F, Flanagan A, Froelich S, Gardner PA, Gelderblom H, Gokaslan ZL, Haas R, Heery C, Hindi N, Hohenberger P, Hornicek F, Imai R, Jeys L, Jones RL, Kasper B, Kawai A, Krengli M, Leithner A, Logowska I, Martin Broto J, Mazzatenta D, Morosi C, Nicolai P, Norum OJ, Patel S, Penel N, Picci P, Pilotti S, Radaelli S, Ricchini F, Rutkowski P, Scheipl S, Sen C, Tamborini E, Thornton KA, Timmermann B, Torri V, Tunn PU, Uhl M, Yamada Y, Weber DC, Vanel D, Varga PP, Vleggeert-Lankamp CLA, Casali PG, Sommer J. Best practices for the management of local-regional recurrent chordoma: a position paper by the Chordoma Global Consensus Group. Ann Oncol 2018; 28:1230-1242. [PMID: 28184416 PMCID: PMC5452071 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare, malignant bone tumors of the skull-base and axial skeleton. Until recently, there was no consensus among experts regarding appropriate clinical management of chordoma, resulting in inconsistent care and suboptimal outcomes for many patients. To address this shortcoming, the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the Chordoma Foundation, the global chordoma patient advocacy group, convened a multi-disciplinary group of chordoma specialists to define by consensus evidence-based best practices for the optimal approach to chordoma. In January 2015, the first recommendations of this group were published, covering the management of primary and metastatic chordomas. Additional evidence and further discussion were needed to develop recommendations about the management of local-regional failures. Thus, ESMO and CF convened a second consensus group meeting in November 2015 to address the treatment of locally relapsed chordoma. This meeting involved over 60 specialists from Europe, the United States and Japan with expertise in treatment of patients with chordoma. The consensus achieved during that meeting is the subject of the present publication and complements the recommendations of the first position paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Gronchi
- Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan
| | - P Fossati
- CNAO National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy, Pavia.,Department of Radiotherapy, IEO-European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - T Akiyama
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama, Japan
| | - C Alapetite
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Curie, Paris.,Institut Curie-Centre de Protonthérapie d'Orsay (ICPO), Orsay, France
| | - M Baumann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - J Y Blay
- Cancer Medicine Department, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon
| | - S Bolle
- Department of Radiotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif Cedex, France
| | - S Boriani
- Department of Degenerative and Oncological Spine Surgery, Rizzoli Institute Bologna, Bologna
| | - P Bruzzi
- Department of Epidemiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova
| | - R Capanna
- University Clinic of Orthopedics and Traumatology AO Pisa, Pisa
| | - A Caraceni
- Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan
| | - R Casadei
- Orthopedic Department, Rizzoli Institute Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - V Colia
- Departments of Cancer Medicine
| | - J Debus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - T Delaney
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - A Desai
- Midlands Abdominal and Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Unit (MARSU), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham
| | - P Dileo
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals (UCLH), London, UK
| | - S Dijkstra
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - F Doglietto
- Institute of Neurosurgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - A Flanagan
- University College London Cancer Institute, London.,Histopathology Department, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stanmore, UK
| | - S Froelich
- Department of Neurosurgery, Paris Diderot University, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - P A Gardner
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - H Gelderblom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Z L Gokaslan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, USA
| | - R Haas
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, USA
| | - N Hindi
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
| | - P Hohenberger
- Sarcoma Unit, Interdisciplinary Tumor Center, Mannheim University Medical Center, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - F Hornicek
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - R Imai
- National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Research Center Hospital for Charged Particle Therapy, Chiba, Japan
| | - L Jeys
- Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham
| | - R L Jones
- Sarcoma Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - B Kasper
- Sarcoma Unit, Interdisciplinary Tumor Center, Mannheim University Medical Center, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - A Kawai
- Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation Medicine, National Cancer Center, Tokio, Japan
| | - M Krengli
- Radiotherapy Department, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - A Leithner
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - I Logowska
- Department of Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - J Martin Broto
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, Sevilla, Spain
| | - D Mazzatenta
- Department of Neurosurgery, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Bologna
| | - C Morosi
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan
| | - P Nicolai
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - O J Norum
- Department of Tumor Orthopedic Surgery, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - S Patel
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - N Penel
- Cencer Medicine Department, Oscar Lambret Cancer Centre, Lille, France
| | - P Picci
- Laboratory of Oncologic Research, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna
| | - S Pilotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - S Radaelli
- Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan
| | - F Ricchini
- Palliative Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan
| | - P Rutkowski
- Department of Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma and Melanoma, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - S Scheipl
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - C Sen
- Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York
| | - E Tamborini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - K A Thornton
- Center for Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - B Timmermann
- Particle Therapy Department, West German Proton Therapy Centre Essen, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - V Torri
- Oncology Unit, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - P U Tunn
- Department of Orthopaedic Oncology, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Uhl
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Y Yamada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - D C Weber
- Paul Scherrer Institut PSI, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - D Vanel
- Department of Radiology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - P P Varga
- National Center for Spinal Disorders, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - J Sommer
- Chordoma Foundation, Durham, USA
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18
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Barth TFE, von Witzleben A, Möller P, Scheil-Bertram S. [Notochordal tumors : Benign notochordal tumors and chordomas]. DER PATHOLOGE 2017; 39:117-124. [PMID: 29236139 DOI: 10.1007/s00292-017-0399-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Benign notochordal tumors (BNCT) and chordomas are primary bone tumors of the spine with a predominant localization in the sacrum and clival region followed by the vertebral bodies. Besides the most common variant (NOS [not otherwise specified] with hepatoid or renal carcinoma cell-like differentiation) chordomas with chondroid, and polymorphic to anaplastic morphology are described. An unfavorable variant are pediatric chordomas with a loss of INI-1. BNCT and chordomas are characterized by the following immunohistological profile: vimentin+, cytokeratin+/-, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA)+/-, S100 protein+/-, brachyury+. This profile helps to distinguish these tumors from other lesions such as chondrosarcoma, chordoid meningioma, and metastases of carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- T F E Barth
- Institut für Pathologie, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Deutschland
| | | | - P Möller
- Institut für Pathologie, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Deutschland
| | - S Scheil-Bertram
- Institut für Pathologie, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Deutschland.
- Institut für Pathologie und Zytologie, HELIOS Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken Wiesbaden, Ludwig-Erhard-Str. 100, 65199, Wiesbaden, Deutschland.
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19
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Magnaghi P, Salom B, Cozzi L, Amboldi N, Ballinari D, Tamborini E, Gasparri F, Montagnoli A, Raddrizzani L, Somaschini A, Bosotti R, Orrenius C, Bozzi F, Pilotti S, Galvani A, Sommer J, Stacchiotti S, Isacchi A. Afatinib Is a New Therapeutic Approach in Chordoma with a Unique Ability to Target EGFR and Brachyury. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 17:603-613. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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20
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Abstract
Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumor that can arise anywhere along the central neural axis and many involve head and neck sites, most commonly the skull base. The relative rarity of these tumors, combined with the complex anatomy of the head and neck, pose diagnostic challenges to pathologists. This article describes the pertinent clinical, pathologic, and molecular features of chordomas and describes how these features can be used to aid in formulating a differential diagnosis. Emphasis is placed on key diagnostic pitfalls and the importance of incorporating immunohistochemical information into the diagnosis.
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21
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Multicentric Chordoma : An Uncommon and Incompletely Understood Presentation. Clin Neuroradiol 2017; 28:283-288. [PMID: 28766007 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-017-0610-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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22
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Colia V, Stacchiotti S. Medical treatment of advanced chordomas. Eur J Cancer 2017; 83:220-228. [PMID: 28750274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a very rare bone sarcoma that can arise from any site along the spine and from the skull base. En bloc resection is the gold standard for treatment while radiation therapy has been shown to provide both curative and palliative benefit. Unfortunately, local recurrences are common, even after a complete surgical resection, and up to 40% of patients suffer from distant metastases, while salvage treatments are challenging. Patients carrying an advanced disease need a systemic treatment. Unluckily, conventional chordoma are insensitive to cytotoxic chemotherapy that is considered the standard treatment option in patients with metastatic sarcoma. In the last decade, innovative therapies have been introduced, positively impacting disease control and patients' quality of life. In addition, a better understanding of the molecular characteristics of chordoma allowed to detect new potential targets. This review is focused on the pharmacological management of patients affected by an advanced disease, starting with a summary of data available on conventional chemotherapy, then moving to a deeper analysis of available data on molecular agents and immunotherapy, and finally providing an update on ongoing clinical trials and future prospective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Colia
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumour and Rare Cancer Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Stacchiotti
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumour and Rare Cancer Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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23
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Yamaguchi T, Imada H, Iida S, Szuhai K. Notochordal Tumors: An Update on Molecular Pathology with Therapeutic Implications. Surg Pathol Clin 2017; 10:637-656. [PMID: 28797506 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2017.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent molecular investigations of chordoma show common expression of various receptor tyrosine kinases and activation of downstream signaling pathways contributing to tumor growth and progression. The transcription factor brachyury (also known as T) is important in notochord differentiation, and germline duplication of the gene is often found in familial chordomas. Nuclear expression of brachyury is consistent in chordoma and in benign notochordal cell tumor. Based on the molecular evidence, targeting of several kinds of molecular agents has been attempted for the treatment of uncontrolled chordomas and achieved partial response or stable condition in many cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takehiko Yamaguchi
- Department of Pathology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8555, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Imada
- Department of Pathology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8555, Japan
| | - Shun Iida
- Department of Pathology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University, 2-1-50 Minami-Koshigaya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8555, Japan
| | - Karoly Szuhai
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box: 9600, Post Zone: R-01-P, Leiden 2300 RC, The Netherlands
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Rutkowski MJ, Birk HS, Wood MD, Perry A, Nicolaides T, Ames CP, Gupta N. Metastatic clival chordoma: a case report of multiple extraneural metastases following resection and proton beam radiotherapy in a 5-year old boy. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2017; 19:531-537. [PMID: 28304223 DOI: 10.3171/2017.1.peds16549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The authors report the case of a 5-year-old boy in whom extraneural metastases developed 5 years after he underwent an occipitocervical fusion and transoral approach to treat a clival chordoma without local recurrence. Following primary resection, the patient's postoperative course was complicated by recurrent meningitis secondary to CSF leak, which responded to antibiotics, and communicating hydrocephalus, for which a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. The patient then underwent postoperative proton beam radiotherapy. Five years following his initial presentation, surveillance imaging revealed a new asymptomatic lung mass for which the patient underwent thoracotomy and resection of the mass. Histological examination of the lung mass revealed findings consistent with a de-differentiated chordoma, confirming extraneural metastasis from the original tumor without evidence of local recurrence. Chest wall and scalp metastases subsequently developed, and the patient was started on an adjuvant chemotherapy regimen that included imatinib and rapamycin followed by subsequent nivolumab and an EZH2 inhibitor for recurrent, disseminated disease. Despite this patient's remote and distant metastases, primary gross-total resection for chordoma remains a critical treatment objective, followed by proton beam radiotherapy. This case illustrates the importance of interval posttreatment imaging and the emerging potential to treat chordoma with molecularly targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Theodore Nicolaides
- Departments of 1 Neurological Surgery.,Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | | | - Nalin Gupta
- Departments of 1 Neurological Surgery.,Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California
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Genetic aberrations and molecular biology of skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma. Brain Tumor Pathol 2017; 34:78-90. [PMID: 28432450 DOI: 10.1007/s10014-017-0283-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chordomas and chondrosarcomas are two major malignant bone neoplasms located at the skull base. These tumors are rarely metastatic, but can be locally invasive and resistant to conventional chemotherapies and radiotherapies. Accordingly, therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these tumors can be difficult. Additionally, their location at the skull base makes them problematic. Although accurate diagnosis of these tumors is important because of their distinct prognoses, distinguishing between these tumor types is difficult due to overlapping radiological and histopathological findings. However, recent accumulation of molecular and genetic studies, including extracranial location analysis, has provided us clues for accurate diagnosis. In this report, we review the genetic aberrations and molecular biology of these two tumor types. Among the abundant genetic features of these tumors, brachyury immunohistochemistry and direct sequencing of IDH1/2 are simple and useful techniques that can be used to distinguish between these tumors. Although it is still unclear why these tumors, which have such distinct genetic backgrounds, show similar histopathological findings, comparison of their genetic backgrounds could provide essential information.
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Lipplaa A, Dijkstra S, Gelderblom H. Efficacy of pazopanib and sunitinib in advanced axial chordoma: a single reference centre case series. Clin Sarcoma Res 2016; 6:19. [PMID: 27822356 PMCID: PMC5088663 DOI: 10.1186/s13569-016-0059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chordomas are rare malignant tumours of the axial skeleton and skull base supposed to arise from cellular remnants of the notochord. These tumours have the potential to metastasize (30–40 %), usually in the later course of the disease. However, the greatest morbidity is usually a result of loco-regional recurrence with infiltration and destruction of surrounding bone and soft tissue. Patients with unresectable or metastatic chordoma are faced with a poor prognosis since cytotoxic chemotherapy or other systemic therapies have not proven their efficacy yet. However, several molecularly targeted drugs have been proposed as potentially beneficial, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) directed at vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), like pazopanib and sunitinib. Case presentation Five patients with unresectable or metastatic chordoma were treated with VEGFR inhibitors pazopanib or sunitinib in the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) between 2008 and 2015. Two out of four patients treated with pazopanib derived clinical benefit and disease remained stable for respectively 14 and 15 months. The one patient treated with sunitinib achieved a partial response according to RECIST 1.1 which lasted for a total of 27 months. No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion These results on the use of pazopanib and sunitinib in chordoma are promising, with an objective response on sunitinib and a median progression free interval of 8.5 months (range 3–15 months), comparable to that of imatinib, in the pazopanib subgroup. However further research is needed to assess the definite role of VEGFR inhibitors in chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Lipplaa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sander Dijkstra
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Gelderblom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Scheipl S, Barnard M, Cottone L, Jorgensen M, Drewry DH, Zuercher WJ, Turlais F, Ye H, Leite AP, Smith JA, Leithner A, Möller P, Brüderlein S, Guppy N, Amary F, Tirabosco R, Strauss SJ, Pillay N, Flanagan AM. EGFR inhibitors identified as a potential treatment for chordoma in a focused compound screen. J Pathol 2016; 239:320-34. [PMID: 27102572 PMCID: PMC4922416 DOI: 10.1002/path.4729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare malignant bone tumour with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We undertook a focused compound screen (FCS) against 1097 compounds on three well-characterized chordoma cell lines; 154 compounds were selected from the single concentration screen (1 µm), based on their growth-inhibitory effect. Their half-maximal effective concentration (EC50 ) values were determined in chordoma cells and normal fibroblasts. Twenty-seven of these compounds displayed chordoma selective cell kill and 21/27 (78%) were found to be EGFR/ERBB family inhibitors. EGFR inhibitors in clinical development were then studied on an extended cell line panel of seven chordoma cell lines, four of which were sensitive to EGFR inhibition. Sapitinib (AstraZeneca) emerged as the lead compound, followed by gefitinib (AstraZeneca) and erlotinib (Roche/Genentech). The compounds were shown to induce apoptosis in the sensitive cell lines and suppressed phospho-EGFR and its downstream pathways in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of substituent patterns suggested that EGFR-inhibitors with small aniline substituents in the 4-position of the quinazoline ring were more effective than inhibitors with large substituents in that position. Sapitinib showed significantly reduced tumour growth in two xenograft mouse models (U-CH1 xenograft and a patient-derived xenograft, SF8894). One of the resistant cell lines (U-CH2) was shown to express high levels of phospho-MET, a known bypass signalling pathway to EGFR. Neither amplifications (EGFR, ERBB2, MET) nor mutations in EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB4, PIK3CA, BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, PTEN, MET or other cancer gene hotspots were detected in the cell lines. Our findings are consistent with the reported (p-)EGFR expression in the majority of clinical samples, and provide evidence for exploring the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of patients with chordoma and studying possible resistance mechanisms to these compounds in vitro and in vivo. © 2016 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Scheipl
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Michelle Barnard
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
- CRUK-MedImmune Alliance Laboratory, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lucia Cottone
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - David H Drewry
- GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- SGC-UNC, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William J Zuercher
- GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- SGC-UNC, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Fabrice Turlais
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hongtao Ye
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Ana P Leite
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - James A Smith
- Cancer Research Technology Discovery Laboratories, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andreas Leithner
- Department of Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | | | | | - Naomi Guppy
- University College London Advanced Diagnostics, London, UK
| | - Fernanda Amary
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Roberto Tirabosco
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | | | - Nischalan Pillay
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - Adrienne M Flanagan
- University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
- University College London Advanced Diagnostics, London, UK
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29
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Wang AC, Owen JH, Abuzeid WM, Hervey-Jumper SL, He X, Gurrea M, Lin M, Altshuler DB, Keep RF, Prince ME, Carey TE, Fan X, McKean EL, Sullivan SE. STAT3 Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy for Chordoma. J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2016; 77:510-520. [PMID: 27857879 DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1584198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins regulate key cellular fate decisions including proliferation and apoptosis. STAT3 overexpression induces tumor growth in multiple neoplasms. STAT3 is constitutively activated in chordoma, a tumor with a high recurrence rate despite maximal surgical and radiation treatment. We hypothesized that a novel small molecule inhibitor of STAT3 (FLLL32) would induce significant cytotoxicity in sacral and clival chordoma cells. Methods Sacral (UCh1) and clival (UM-CHOR-1) chordoma cell lines were grown in culture (the latter derived from primary tumor explants). FLLL32 dosing parameters were optimized using cell viability assays. Antitumor potential of FLLL32 was assessed using clonal proliferation assays. Potential mechanisms underlying observed cytotoxicity were examined using immunofluorescence assays. Results FLLL32 induced significant cytotoxicity in UCh1 and UM-CHOR-1 chordoma cells, essentially eliminating all viable cells, correlating with observed downregulation in activated, phosphorylated STAT3 upon administration of FLLL32. Mechanisms underlying the observed cytotoxicity included increased apoptosis and reduced cellular proliferation through inhibition of mitosis. Conclusion As a monotherapy, FLLL32 induces potent tumor kill in vitro in chordoma cell lines derived from skull base and sacrum. This effect is mediated through inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, increased susceptibility to apoptosis, and suppression of cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States
| | - John H Owen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Waleed M Abuzeid
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United States
| | - Shawn L Hervey-Jumper
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Xiaobing He
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Mikel Gurrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Meijuan Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - David B Altshuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Richard F Keep
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Mark E Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Thomas E Carey
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Xing Fan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Erin L McKean
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
| | - Stephen E Sullivan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
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Aleksic T, Browning L, Woodward M, Phillips R, Page S, Henderson S, Athanasou N, Ansorge O, Whitwell D, Pratap S, Hassan AB, Middleton MR, Macaulay VM. Durable Response of Spinal Chordoma to Combined Inhibition of IGF-1R and EGFR. Front Oncol 2016; 6:98. [PMID: 27200287 PMCID: PMC4852191 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare primary malignant bone tumors arising from embryonal notochord remnants of the axial skeleton. Chordomas commonly recur following surgery and radiotherapy, and there is no effective systemic therapy. Previous studies implicated receptor tyrosine kinases, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R), in chordoma biology. We report an adult female patient who presented in 2003 with spinal chordoma, treated with surgery and radiotherapy. She underwent further surgery for recurrent chordoma in 2008, with subsequent progression in pelvic deposits. In June 2009, she was recruited onto the Phase I OSI-906-103 trial of EGFR inhibitor erlotinib with linsitinib, a novel inhibitor of IGF-1R/insulin receptor (INSR). Treatment with 100 mg QD erlotinib and 50 mg QD linsitinib was well-tolerated, and after 18 months a partial response was achieved by RECIST criteria. From 43 months, a protocol modification allowed intra-patient linsitinib dose escalation to 50 mg BID. The patient remained stable on trial treatment for a total of 5 years, discontinuing treatment in August 2014. She subsequently experienced further disease progression for which she underwent pelvic surgery in April 2015. Analysis of DNA extracted from 2008 (pre-trial) tissue showed that the tumor harbored wild-type EGFR, and a PIK3CA mutation was detected in plasma, but not tumor DNA. The 2015 (post-trial) tumor harbored a mutation of uncertain significance in ATM, with no detectable mutations in other components of a 50 gene panel, including EGFR, PIK3CA, and TP53. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor was positive for brachyury, the molecular hallmark of chordoma, and showed weak–moderate membrane and cytoplasmic EGFR. IGF-1R was detected in the plasma membrane and cytoplasm and was expressed more strongly in recurrent tumor than the primary. We also noted heterogeneous nuclear IGF-1R, which has been linked with sensitivity to IGF-1R inhibition. Similar variation in IGF-1R expression and subcellular localization was noted in 15 further cases of chordoma. In summary, this exceptionally durable response suggests that there may be merit in evaluating combined IGF-1R/INSR and EGFR inhibition in patients with chordomas that recur following failure of local treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Aleksic
- Department of Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building , Oxford , UK
| | - Lisa Browning
- Department of Cellular Pathology, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Martha Woodward
- Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Rachel Phillips
- Department of Radiology, Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Suzanne Page
- BRC Oxford Molecular Diagnostic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Shirley Henderson
- BRC Oxford Molecular Diagnostic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Nicholas Athanasou
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre , Oxford , UK
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford , UK
| | - Duncan Whitwell
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre , Oxford , UK
| | - Sarah Pratap
- Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - A Bassim Hassan
- Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Mark R Middleton
- Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK
| | - Valentine M Macaulay
- Department of Oncology, Old Road Campus Research Building, Oxford, UK; Oxford Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
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Abstract
Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer, with an incidence of about one case per million persons per year in the USA and Europe (about 300 and 450 cases per year, respectively). The estimated median overall survival of patients with chordoma is approximately 6–7 years, yielding a rough estimate of chordoma prevalence at about 2000 in the USA and 3000 in Europe. Primary tumor develops along the axial spine between the clivus and sacrum and develops from the residual embryonic notochord. Brachyury (T), a transcription factor required for normal embryonic development, is expressed in the notochord and overexpressed in almost all cases of chordoma. The primary treatment for chordoma is surgical excision with wide local margins, when possible. Radiotherapy also plays a significant role in the adjuvant setting and when surgery is not possible. Unfortunately, in the advanced and/or metastatic setting, where the role of surgery and/or radiation is less clear, treatment options are very limited. To date, there have been no randomized, controlled trials in chordoma that have resulted in defined agents of clinical benefit for systemic treatment. This review briefly describes the natural history and initial treatment of chordoma and focuses on treatment options for advanced disease and potential avenues of research that may lead to improved treatment options in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Heery
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Clival chordomas are rare malignant tumors associated with a poor prognosis. In this article, we review the current literature to identify a variety of strategies that provide guidelines toward the optimal management for this aggressive tumor. RECENT FINDINGS Molecular disease, particularly, the development of characterized chordoma cell lines, has become one of the new cornerstones for the histological diagnosis of chordomas and for the development of effective chemotherapeutic agents against this tumor. Brachyury, a transcription factor in notochord development, seems to provide an excellent diagnostic marker for chordoma and may also prove to be a valuable target for chordoma therapy. Aggressive cytoreductive surgery aiming for gross total resection with maintenance of key neurovascular structures, followed by proton beam or hadron radiation, provides the best local recurrence and overall survival rates. SUMMARY Clival chordomas are locally aggressive tumors that are challenging to treat because of their unique biology, proximity to key neurovascular structures and poor prognosis. Currently, chordomas are optimally managed with aggressive surgery, whilst preserving key structures, and postoperative radiation in a multidisciplinary setting with an experienced team. The advancement of molecular techniques offers exciting future diagnostic and therapeutic options in the management of chordomas.
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Garofalo F, di Summa PG, Christoforidis D, Pracht M, Laudato P, Cherix S, Bouchaab H, Raffoul W, Demartines N, Matter M. Multidisciplinary approach of lumbo-sacral chordoma: From oncological treatment to reconstructive surgery. J Surg Oncol 2015; 112:544-554. [DOI: 10.1002/jso.24026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Garofalo
- Department of Visceral Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Pietro G. di Summa
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Dimitrios Christoforidis
- Department of Visceral Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
- Department of Surgery; Hospital Civico; Lugano Switzerland
| | - Marc Pracht
- Department of Oncology; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Pietro Laudato
- Department of Orthopedics; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Cherix
- Department of Orthopedics; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Hanan Bouchaab
- Department of Radio-Oncology; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Wassim Raffoul
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Demartines
- Department of Visceral Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Maurice Matter
- Department of Visceral Surgery; University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
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von Witzleben A, Goerttler LT, Marienfeld R, Barth H, Lechel A, Mellert K, Böhm M, Kornmann M, Mayer-Steinacker R, von Baer A, Schultheiss M, Flanagan AM, Möller P, Brüderlein S, Barth TF. Preclinical Characterization of Novel Chordoma Cell Systems and Their Targeting by Pharmocological Inhibitors of the CDK4/6 Cell-Cycle Pathway. Cancer Res 2015; 75:3823-31. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-14-3270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Lebellec L, Aubert S, Zaïri F, Ryckewaert T, Chauffert B, Penel N. Molecular targeted therapies in advanced or metastatic chordoma patients: Facts and hypotheses. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2015; 95:125-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2015.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Di Maio S, Yip S, Al Zhrani GA, Alotaibi FE, Al Turki A, Kong E, Rostomily RC. Novel targeted therapies in chordoma: an update. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2015; 11:873-83. [PMID: 26097380 PMCID: PMC4451853 DOI: 10.2147/tcrm.s50526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare, locally aggressive skull base neoplasms known for local recurrence and not-infrequent treatment failure. Current evidence supports the role of maximal safe surgical resection. In addition to open skull-base approaches, the endoscopic endonasal approach to clival chordomas has been reported with favorable albeit early results. Adjuvant radiation is prescribed following complete resection, alternatively for gross residual disease or at the time of recurrence. The modalities of adjuvant radiation therapy reported vary widely and include proton-beam, carbon-ion, fractionated photon radiotherapy, and photon and gamma-knife radiosurgery. As of now, no direct comparison is available, and high-level evidence demonstrating superiority of one modality over another is lacking. While systemic therapies have yet to form part of any first-line therapy for chordomas, a number of targeted agents have been evaluated to date that inhibit specific molecules and their respective pathways known to be implicated in chordomas. These include EGFR (erlotinib, gefitinib, lapatinib), PDGFR (imatinib), mTOR (rapamycin), and VEGF (bevacizumab). This article provides an update of the current multimodality treatment of cranial base chordomas, with an emphasis on how current understanding of molecular pathogenesis provides a framework for the development of novel targeted approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Di Maio
- Division of Neurosurgery, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Stephen Yip
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gmaan A Al Zhrani
- National Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Fahad E Alotaibi
- National Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Abdulrahman Al Turki
- National Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Esther Kong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Robert C Rostomily
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
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Stacchiotti S, Sommer J. Building a global consensus approach to chordoma: a position paper from the medical and patient community. Lancet Oncol 2015; 16:e71-83. [PMID: 25638683 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(14)71190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 296] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Chordomas are very rare bone malignant tumours that have had a shortage of effective treatments for a long time. New treatments are now available for both the local and the metastatic phase of the disease, but the degree of uncertainty in selecting the most appropriate treatment remains high and their adoption remains inconsistent across the world, resulting in suboptimum outcomes for many patients. In December, 2013, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) convened a consensus meeting to update its clinical practice guidelines on sarcomas. ESMO also hosted a parallel consensus meeting on chordoma that included more than 40 chordoma experts from several disciplines and from both sides of the Atlantic, with the contribution and sponsorship of the Chordoma Foundation, a global patient advocacy group. The consensus reached at that meeting is shown in this position paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Stacchiotti
- Adult Mesenchymal Tumour Medical Therapy Unit, Cancer Medicine Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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Houessinon A, Boone M, Constans JM, Toussaint P, Chauffert B. Sustained response of a clivus chordoma to erlotinib after imatinib failure. Case Rep Oncol 2015; 8:25-9. [PMID: 25762924 PMCID: PMC4342859 DOI: 10.1159/000371843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare malignant axial tumour that develops from embryonic remnants of the notochord. Surgery and irradiation are the standard initial treatment. However, local recurrence is frequent and cytotoxic chemotherapy is inefficient. Transient activity of imatinib, a platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor, was described in a phase II study. Activity of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (erlotinib, gefitinib) has also been shown in a few recent case reports. We describe a 68-year-old female in whom clivus chordoma recurred after surgery and radiotherapy. The tumour progressed despite imatinib treatment. A partial and sustained response (28+ months) was obtained using erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor. Erlotinib should be evaluated in a prospective trial investigating new potential therapies against recurrent chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mathieu Boone
- University Hospital, Department of Oncology CHU, Amiens, France
| | | | | | - Bruno Chauffert
- University Hospital, Department of Oncology CHU, Amiens, France
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Wang H, Yang Q, Fu Z, Zuo D, Hua Y, Cai Z. ErbB receptors as prognostic and therapeutic drug targets in bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Cancer Invest 2014; 32:533-42. [PMID: 25347730 DOI: 10.3109/07357907.2014.964409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
ErbB receptors have been intensely studied to understand their importance in cancer biology and as therapeutic targets, and many ErbB inhibitors are now used in the clinical setting. A large number of studies have been conducted to examine the expression of ErbB family members in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, including osteosarcomas, synovial sarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, and so on. Nevertheless, the clinical implications of ErbB receptors remain elusive. To illustrate the potential of ErbB family members as prognostic and therapeutic drug targets in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, we summarized the molecular evidence and observations from clinical and basic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongsheng Wang
- 1Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai 1st People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
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Yakkioui Y, van Overbeeke JJ, Santegoeds R, van Engeland M, Temel Y. Chordoma: the entity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2014; 1846:655-69. [PMID: 25193090 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Chordomas are malignant tumors of the axial skeleton, characterized by their locally invasive and slow but aggressive growth. These neoplasms are presumed to be derived from notochordal remnants with a molecular alteration preceding their malignant transformation. As these tumors are most frequently observed on the skull base and sacrum, patients suffering from a chordoma present with debilitating neurological disease, and have an overall 5-year survival rate of 65%. Surgical resection with adjuvant radiotherapy is the first-choice treatment modality in these patients, since chordomas are resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Even so, management of chordomas can be challenging, as chordoma patients often present with recurrent disease. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular events that contribute to the development of chordomas are promising; the most novel finding being the identification of brachyury in the disease process. Here we present an overview of the current paradigms and summarize relevant research findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youssef Yakkioui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jacobus J van Overbeeke
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Remco Santegoeds
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Manon van Engeland
- Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Yasin Temel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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George B, Bresson D, Bouazza S, Froelich S, Mandonnet E, Hamdi S, Orabi M, Polivka M, Cazorla A, Adle-Biassette H, Guichard JP, Duet M, Gayat E, Vallée F, Canova CH, Riet F, Bolle S, Calugaru V, Dendale R, Mazeron JJ, Feuvret L, Boissier E, Vignot S, Puget S, Sainte-Rose C, Beccaria K. [Chordoma]. Neurochirurgie 2014; 60:63-140. [PMID: 24856008 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuchi.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSES To review in the literature, all the epidemiological, clinical, radiological, histological and therapeutic data regarding chordomas as well as various notochordal entities: ecchordosis physaliphora, intradural and intraparenchymatous chordomas, benign notochordal cell tumors, parachordomas and extra-axial chordomas. To identify different types of chordomas, including familial forms, associations with tuberous sclerosis, Ollier's disease and Maffucci's syndrome, forms with metastasis and seeding. To assess the recent data regarding molecular biology and progress in targeted therapy. To compare the different types of radiotherapy, especially protontherapy and their therapeutic effects. To review the largest series of chordomas in their different localizations (skull base, sacrum and mobile spine) from the literature. MATERIALS The series of 136 chordomas treated and followed up over 20 years (1972-2012) in the department of neurosurgery at Lariboisière hospital is reviewed. It includes: 58 chordomas of the skull base, 47 of the craniocervical junction, 23 of the cervical spine and 8 from the lombosacral region. Similarly, 31 chordomas in children (less than 18 years of age), observed in the departments of neurosurgery of les Enfants-Malades and Lariboisière hospitals, are presented. They were observed between 1976 and 2010 and were located intracranially (n=22 including 13 with cervical extension), 4 at the craniocervical junction level and 5 in the cervical spine. METHODS In the entire Lariboisière series and in the different groups of localization, different parameters were analyzed: the delay of diagnosis, of follow-up, of occurrence of metastasis, recurrence and death, the number of primary patients and patients referred to us after progression or recurrence and the number of deaths, recurrences and metastases. The influence of the quality of resection (total, subtotal and partial) on the prognosis is also presented. Kaplan-Meier actuarial curves of overall survival and disease free survival were performed in the entire series, including the different groups of localization based on the following 4 parameters: age, primary and secondary patients, quality of resection and protontherapy. In the pediatric series, a similar analysis was carried-out but was limited by the small number of patients in the subgroups. RESULTS In the Lariboisière series, the mean delay of diagnosis is 10 months and the mean follow-up is 80 months in each group. The delay before recurrence, metastasis and death is always better for the skull base chordomas and worse for those of the craniocervical junction, which have similar results to those of the cervical spine. Similar figures were observed as regards the number of deaths, metastases and recurrences. Quality of resection is the major factor of prognosis with 20.5 % of deaths and 28 % of recurrences after total resection as compared to 52.5 % and 47.5 % after subtotal resection. This is still more obvious in the group of skull base chordomas. Adding protontherapy to a total resection can still improve the results but there is no change after subtotal resection. The actuarial curve of overall survival shows a clear cut in the slope with some chordomas having a fast evolution towards recurrence and death in less than 4 years and others having a long survival of sometimes more than 20 years. Also, age has no influence on the prognosis. In primary patients, disease free survival is better than in secondary patients but not in overall survival. Protontherapy only improves the overall survival in the entire series and in the skull base group. Total resection improves both the overall and disease free survival in each group. Finally, the adjunct of protontherapy after total resection is clearly demonstrated. In the pediatric series, the median follow-up is 5.7 years. Overall survival and disease free survival are respectively 63 % and 54.3 %. Factors of prognosis are the histological type (atypical forms), localization (worse for the cervical spine and better for the clivus) and again it will depend on the quality of resection. CONCLUSIONS Many different pathologies derived from the notochord can be observed: some are remnants, some may be precursors of chordomas and some have similar features but are probably not genuine chordomas. To-day, immuno-histological studies should permit to differentiate them from real chordomas. Improving knowledge of molecular biology raises hopes for complementary treatments but to date the quality of surgical resection is still the main factor of prognosis. Complementary protontherapy seems useful, especially in skull base chordomas, which have better overall results than those of the craniocervical junction and of the cervical spine. However, we are still lacking an intrinsic marker of evolution to differentiate the slow growing chordomas with an indolent evolution from aggressive types leading rapidly to recurrence and death on which more aggressive treatments should be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- B George
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France.
| | - D Bresson
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - S Bouazza
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - S Froelich
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - E Mandonnet
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - S Hamdi
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - M Orabi
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - M Polivka
- Service d'anatomopathologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - A Cazorla
- Service d'anatomopathologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - H Adle-Biassette
- Service d'anatomopathologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - J-P Guichard
- Service de neuroradiologie, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - M Duet
- Service de médecine nucléaire, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - E Gayat
- Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - F Vallée
- Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, hôpital Lariboisière, 2, rue Ambroise-Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - C-H Canova
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - F Riet
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - S Bolle
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - V Calugaru
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - R Dendale
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - J-J Mazeron
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - L Feuvret
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - E Boissier
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - S Vignot
- Service de radiothérapie et d'oncologie médicale, hôpital de la Salpêtrière, institut Gustave-Roussy, institut Curie, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - S Puget
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Necker, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France
| | - C Sainte-Rose
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Necker, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France
| | - K Beccaria
- Service de neurochirurgie, hôpital Necker, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France
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Kayani B, Hanna SA, Sewell MD, Saifuddin A, Molloy S, Briggs TWR. A review of the surgical management of sacral chordoma. Eur J Surg Oncol 2014; 40:1412-20. [PMID: 24793103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2014.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sacral chordomas are rare low-to-intermediate grade malignant tumours, which arise from remnants of the embryonic notochord. This review explores prognostic factors in the management of sacral chordomas and provides guidance on the optimal treatment regimens based on the current literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS Electronic searches were performed using MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane library to identify studies on prognostic factors in the management of sacral chordomas published between January 1970 and December 2013. The literature search and review process identified 100 articles that were included in the review article. This included both surgical and non-surgical studies on the management of sacral chordomas. RESULTS Sacrectomy with wide resection margins forms the mainstay of treatment but is associated with high risk of disease recurrence and reduced long-term survival. Adequate resection margins may require sacrifice of adjacent nerve roots, musculature and ligaments leading to functional compromise and mechanical instability. Large tumour size (greater than 5-10 cm in diameter), dedifferentiation and greater cephalad tumour extension are associated with increased risk of disease recurrence and reduced survival. Chordomas are poorly responsive to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Operative resection with wide resection margins offers the best long-term prognosis. Inadequate resection margins, large tumour size, dedifferentiation, and greater cephalad chordoma extension are associated with poor oncological outcomes. Routine long-term follow-up is essential to enable early detection and treatment of recurrent disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kayani
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - S A Hanna
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - M D Sewell
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK.
| | - A Saifuddin
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - S Molloy
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
| | - T W R Briggs
- The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK
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Siu IM, Ruzevick J, Zhao Q, Connis N, Jiao Y, Bettegowda C, Xia X, Burger PC, Hann CL, Gallia GL. Erlotinib inhibits growth of a patient-derived chordoma xenograft. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78895. [PMID: 24260133 PMCID: PMC3829812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are rare primary bone tumors that occur along the neuraxis. Primary treatment is surgery, often followed by radiotherapy. Treatment options for patients with recurrence are limited and, notably, there are no FDA approved therapeutic agents. Development of therapeutic options has been limited by the paucity of preclinical model systems. We have established and previously reported the initial characterization of the first patient-derived chordoma xenograft model. In this study, we further characterize this model and demonstrate that it continues to resemble the original patient tumor histologically and immunohistochemically, maintains nuclear expression of brachyury, and is highly concordant with the original patient tumor by whole genome genotyping. Pathway analysis of this xenograft demonstrates activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In vitro studies demonstrate that two small molecule inhibitors of EGFR, erlotinib and gefitinib, inhibit proliferation of the chordoma cell line U-CH 1. We further demonstrate that erlotinib significantly inhibits chordoma growth in vivo. Evaluation of tumors post-treatment reveals that erlotinib reduces phosphorylation of EGFR. This is the first demonstration of antitumor activity in a patient-derived chordoma xenograft model and these findings support further evaluation of EGFR inhibitors in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- I-Mei Siu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jacob Ruzevick
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Qi Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Ludwig Collaborative Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nick Connis
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yuchen Jiao
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Chetan Bettegowda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xuewei Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Gulin Medical College, Guilin, China
| | - Peter C. Burger
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christine L. Hann
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gary L. Gallia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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de Castro MSc CV, Guimaraes G, Aguiar Jr S, Lopes A, Baiocchi G, da Cunha IW, Campos AHJFM, Soares FA, Begnami MD. Tyrosine kinase receptor expression in chordomas: phosphorylated AKT correlates inversely with outcome. Hum Pathol 2013; 44:1747-55. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2012.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2012] [Revised: 11/24/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Yamada Y, Laufer I, Cox BW, Lovelock DM, Maki RG, Zatcky JM, Boland PJ, Bilsky MH. Preliminary Results of High-Dose Single-Fraction Radiotherapy for the Management of Chordomas of the Spine and Sacrum. Neurosurgery 2013; 73:673-80; discussion 680. [DOI: 10.1227/neu.0000000000000083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
En bloc wide-margin excision significantly decreases the risk of chordoma recurrence. However, a wide surgical margin cannot be obtained in many chordomas because they arise primarily in the sacrum, clivus, and mobile spine. Furthermore, these tumors have shown resistance to fractionated photon radiation at conventional doses and numerous chemotherapies.
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the outcomes of single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the treatment of chordomas of the mobile spine and sacrum.
METHODS:
Twenty-four patients with chordoma of the sacrum and mobile spine were treated with high-dose single-fraction SRS (median dose, 2400 cGy). Twenty-one primary and 3 metastatic tumors were treated. Seven patients were treated for postoperative tumor recurrence. In 7 patients, SRS was administered as planned adjuvant therapy, and in 13 patients, SRS was administered as neoadjuvant therapy. All patients had serial magnetic resonance imaging follow-up.
RESULTS:
The overall median follow-up was 24 months. Of the 24 patients, 23 (95%) demonstrated stable or reduced tumor burden based on serial magnetic resonance imaging. One patient had radiographic progression of tumor 11 months after SRS. Only 6 of 13 patients who underwent neoadjuvant SRS proceeded to surgery. This decision was based on the lack of radiographic progression and the patient's preference. Complications were limited to 1 patient in whom sciatic neuropathy developed and 1 with vocal cord paralysis.
CONCLUSION:
High-dose single-fraction SRS provides good tumor control with low treatment-related morbidity. Additional follow-up is required to determine the long-term recurrence risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiya Yamada
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ilya Laufer
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Brett W. Cox
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - D. Michael Lovelock
- Departments of Medical Physics, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Robert G. Maki
- Departments of Orthopedics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Joan M. Zatcky
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Patrick J. Boland
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Mark H. Bilsky
- Departments of Neurosurgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Orthopedics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York
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Zorlu F, Gultekin M, Cengiz M, Yildiz F, Akyol F, Gurkaynak M, Ozyigit G. Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery treatment results for skull base chordomas. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2013; 13:11-9. [PMID: 23819495 DOI: 10.7785/tcrt.2012.500354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chordomas are uncommon neoplasms and there is still controversy regarding establishment of diagnosis and management. The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and toxicity of fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (FSRS) in skull base chordomas. There were 4 female (36%) and 7 male (64%) patients. FSRS was delivered with CyberKnife (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). The median tumor volume was 14.7 cc (range, 3.9-40.5 cc). The median marginal tumor dose was 30 Gy (range, 20-36 Gy) in a median 5 fractions (range, 3-5 fractions). The median follow-up time was 42 months (range, 17-63 months). At the time of analysis, 10 (91%) patients were alive and 1 (9%) had died due to tumor progression. Of 10 patients, 8 (73%) had stable disease and the remaining 2 (18%) had progressive disease. The actuarial overall survival (OS) after FSRS was 91% at two-years. Two patients developed radiation-induced brain necrosis as a complication in the 8th and 28th months of follow-up, respectively. Our results with robotic FSRS in skull base chordomas are promising for selected patients. However, due to the slow growth pattern of skull base chordomas, a longer follow-up is required to determine exact treatment results and late morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Zorlu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
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Stacchiotti S, Tamborini E, Lo Vullo S, Bozzi F, Messina A, Morosi C, Casale A, Crippa F, Conca E, Negri T, Palassini E, Marrari A, Palmerini E, Mariani L, Gronchi A, Pilotti S, Casali PG. Phase II study on lapatinib in advanced EGFR-positive chordoma. Ann Oncol 2013; 24:1931-1936. [PMID: 23559153 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdt117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To report on a prospective, investigator-driven, phase II study on lapatinib in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive advanced chordoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS From December 2009 to January 2012, 18 advanced progressing chordoma patients entered this study (median age: 61 years; disease extent: metastatic 72% and locally advanced 28%). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and/or phospho-arrays, real-time polimerase chain reaction, fluorescence immunostaining. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was also carried out. Patients received lapatinib 1500 mg/day (mean dose intensity = 1282 mg/day), until progression or toxicity. The primary study end point was response rate (RR) as per Choi criteria. Secondary end points were RR by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST), overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS) and clinical benefit rate (CBR; RECIST complete response + partial response (PR) + stable disease (SD) ≥ 6 months). RESULTS All patients were evaluable for response. Six (33.3%) patients had PR and 7 (38.9%) SD, as their best Choi responses, corresponding to RECIST SD in all cases. Median PFS by Choi was 6 [interquartile (IQ) range 3-8] months. Median PFS by RECIST was 8 (IQ range 4-12) months, with a 22% CBR. CONCLUSIONS This phase II study showed a modest antitumor activity of lapatinib in chordoma. The clinical exploitation of EGFR targeting in chordoma needs to be further investigated, both clinically and preclinically. Clinical trial Registration No: EU Clinical Trials Register trial no. 2009-014456-29.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - E Tamborini
- Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology
| | - S Lo Vullo
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Trial Organization
| | - F Bozzi
- Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology
| | | | | | | | - F Crippa
- Nuclear Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan
| | - E Conca
- Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology
| | - T Negri
- Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology
| | - E Palassini
- Sarcoma Unit, Departments of Cancer Medicine
| | - A Marrari
- Sarcoma Unit, Departments of Cancer Medicine
| | - E Palmerini
- Chemotherapy Unit, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna
| | - L Mariani
- Unit of Clinical Epidemiology and Trial Organization
| | - A Gronchi
- Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - S Pilotti
- Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Pathology
| | - P G Casali
- Sarcoma Unit, Departments of Cancer Medicine
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Di Maio S, Kong E, Yip S, Rostomily R. Converging paths to progress for skull base chordoma: Review of current therapy and future molecular targets. Surg Neurol Int 2013; 4:72. [PMID: 23776758 PMCID: PMC3683175 DOI: 10.4103/2152-7806.112822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordomas of the skull base are rare locally aggressive neoplasms with a predilection for encapsulating critical neurovascular structures, bony destruction and irregular growth patterns, and from which patients succumb to recurrence and treatment failures. METHODS A review of the medical literature is performed, using standard search engines and identifying articles related to skull base chordomas, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, molecular genetics, and prospective trials. RESULTS A synthesis of the literature is presented, including sections on pathology, treatment, molecular genetics, challenges, and future directions. CONCLUSION Beyond an understanding of the current treatment paradigms for skull base chordomas, the reader gains insight into the collaborative approach applied to orphan diseases, of which chordomas is a prime exemplar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Di Maio
- Division of Neurosurgery, McGill University, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
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From notochord formation to hereditary chordoma: the many roles of Brachyury. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:826435. [PMID: 23662285 PMCID: PMC3626178 DOI: 10.1155/2013/826435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chordoma is a rare, but often malignant, bone cancer that preferentially affects the axial skeleton and the skull base. These tumors are both sporadic and hereditary and appear to occur more frequently after the fourth decade of life; however, modern technologies have increased the detection of pediatric chordomas. Chordomas originate from remnants of the notochord, the main embryonic axial structure that precedes the backbone, and share with notochord cells both histological features and the expression of characteristic genes. One such gene is Brachyury, which encodes for a sequence-specific transcription factor. Known for decades as a main regulator of notochord formation, Brachyury has recently gained interest as a biomarker and causative agent of chordoma, and therefore as a promising therapeutic target. Here, we review the main characteristics of chordoma, the molecular markers, and the clinical approaches currently available for the early detection and possible treatment of this cancer. In particular, we report on the current knowledge of the role of Brachyury and of its possible mechanisms of action in both notochord formation and chordoma etiogenesis.
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