Findings & Breakthroughs
Treatment Breakthrough Complete removal is now the norm at top skull base centers
Most patients at leading centers now get gross total resection. At 10-15 years, tumors return much later after total removal than after partial removal, and near-total removal isn't as good. The old '7-year median survival' figure is outdated.
Josh Sommer · Chordoma Foundation
· Chordoma Foundation 2030 Strategic Plan
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Treatment Breakthrough Recurrence is no longer a dead end
In a Mayo series, about half of patients with recurrence were alive at 5 years. Those who could have surgery plus radiation for the recurrence had a median survival of about 10 years.
Josh Sommer · Chordoma Foundation
· Chordoma Foundation 2030 Strategic Plan
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Treatment Get genomic + RNA sequencing at recurrence
It can reveal off-label drug options. Targeted panels cover 200-400 genes. Whole-genome sequencing currently gives more data than is useful.
Gregory Cote · Massachusetts General Hospital
· Clinical Trials & the New Platform Trial
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Treatment Radiation alone is a real option for some spine/sacral tumors
MSK's experience over several decades shows radiation alone being used more and more. Carbon-ion and proton results support it. The decision depends on whether a surgery's side effects are acceptable.
Joseph Schwab · Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
· Welcome: Fireside Chat with Research & Clinical Leaders
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Treatment Skull base: not everyone needs radiation after surgery
Doctors use tumor pathology after surgery to decide who needs radiation and who can be watched.
Matei Banu · Stanford Medicine
· Welcome: Fireside Chat with Research & Clinical Leaders
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Treatment Cryoablation as a local option
Freezes tumor tissue with argon and helium cycles. It's done by interventional radiology and decided by a multidisciplinary tumor board.
Joseph Schwab · Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
· Welcome: Fireside Chat with Research & Clinical Leaders
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