About Chordoma
Chordoma is a rare, slow-growing but locally aggressive malignant bone tumour arising from remnants of the embryonic notochord and occurring predominantly at the skull base (clivus), mobile spine, and sacrococcygeal region. The transcription factor brachyury (encoded by TBXT) is a specific and sensitive diagnostic marker overexpressed in virtually all chordomas, and germline duplication of TBXT is associated with familial predisposition. Despite its slow growth, chordoma is characterised by high rates of local recurrence after surgery, resistance to conventional radiotherapy doses, and a paucity of effective systemic therapies.
Common Clinical Features
Clinical Trial Eligibility Tips
What to know before applying to Chordoma trials.
Brachyury (TBXT) immunohistochemistry is the diagnostic standard — confirm pathology report documents positive brachyury staining to satisfy most trial eligibility requirements.
Prior treatment history (surgery and proton beam or carbon ion radiotherapy) significantly affects eligibility; document the number of prior resections, radiation doses, and fields treated.
Molecular profiling for targetable alterations (CDKN2A/B deletion, PI3K pathway, receptor tyrosine kinase expression) is increasingly required for biomarker-selected trials — request comprehensive tumour genomic profiling if not already performed.
Patient Resources
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