Chordoma Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Chordoma Clinical Trials?

Chordomas, also known as notochordal sarcoma, are slow-growing tumors that mainly occur in the skull or along the spine. Chordomas form from leftover cells in embryonic tissue that eventually become spinal disks. It is common for these cells to be discarded after a person is born. However, some of these cells may remain and, over time, become cancerous.

Chordoma affects only 1 in a million people per year. It is most commonly diagnosed when patients are in their 50s and 60s but can occur at any age. Younger patients are more likely to have skull base chordomas, while older patients commonly develop spinal chordomas. The primary cause of chordomas is unknown, thus necessitating more clinical trials to help with treatment and early diagnosis.

Why Is Chordoma Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

The causes of chordoma are not fully known. Researchers have been unable to point out risk factors such as environment, diet, or lifestyle for chordoma. Most cases of chordomas happen at random without any genetic risk factors. Extremely rare cases of chordomas may develop in several members of the same family. Chordomas can take a while to be discovered because they grow very slowly.

The median survival for chordomas is seven years in the United States. Chordoma clinical trials are needed to provide a more accurate diagnosis of the condition and determine why it develops in patients.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Chordoma?

The most common treatment for chordoma is surgery. Practitioners may decide to use radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells. In some cases of chordoma, surgery may not be possible because the tumors grow directly on the spine near important tissues like blood vessels and nerves.

Additionally, doctors may prescribe chemotherapy drug combinations such as cisplatin and imatinib to treat chordoma. New chordoma clinical trials are looking for new treatments, including immunotherapy. Some chordoma cases can be cured completely; however, the chances of survival depend on where the tumor is growing.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Chordoma?

2020: Apatinib in Patients with Advanced Chordoma - This clinical trial sought to explore a standardized treatment for solid tumors resulting from chordoma. Researchers studied how apatinib played a role in managing the toxicity of chordoma. Patients received 500 mg apatinib every day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. This study is currently ongoing and aims to study treatment-related side effects.

2021: Diffusion Coefficient as a Prognostic Factor in Clival Chordoma - This study looks at the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to evaluate aggressive features of chordoma. Researchers analyzed preoperative ADC values to help predict tumor progression in patients with clival chordoma. 30 operated cases were analyzed with the help of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. It was found that the mean and minimum ADC values could be used to predict the aggressiveness of clival chordoma.