Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for chordomas. The extent of surgical resection has a major impact on one’s outcome and chances of survival, so the importance of achieving a complete resection, if possible, cannot be overstated. Because chordomas occur near vital structures such as the spinal cord, nerves, and arteries, complete resection is often complex and challenging, requiring a highly specialized surgical team. The first surgery offers the best opportunity to achieve a complete, and potentially curative, resection. Therefore, selecting a surgeon with significant experience in treating chordoma patients is critically important.
Once the tumor is removed, radiation therapy can decrease chances of re-growth of residual tumor, and radiation has been shown to increase both short-term and long-term survival rates. Chordomas can only be controlled with very high doses of radiation – doses which would permanently damage normal tissue. Therefore, to be effective and avoid injury, radiation must be precisely delivered to the tumor while avoiding surrounding structures such as the spinal cord. A type of radiation called proton beam therapy is most often recommended for chordoma patients; however certain other types of radiation, such as radiosurgery, may also be effective.
If surgery and/or radiation are not possible, chemotherapy can be used to slow the progression of the disease. A small number of clinical trials and case reports have shown that chordoma patients may benefit from several different targeted therapies. See below for a list of peer-reviewed reports of response to chemotherapy. Promising new drugs may be available through clinical trials open to chordoma patients.
No matter what your situation, your doctors can make all the difference. Optimal management of chordoma involves a multidisciplinary team approach including surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists. Our doctor database can help you find specialists who are experienced in treating chordoma patients.
Treatment Results
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with chordoma, information is your ally in finding the best possible treatment options. However, searching the medical literature for reliable information about potential treatments can be challenging and time consuming. You don’t have time to lose, so we’ve compiled the latest data from peer-reviewed sources about treatments that have been tested in chordoma patients.
Below is a list of published evidence on the effectiveness of various types of chemotherapy for treating chordoma. We are in the process of compiling a similar list for radiation therapy.
PR=Partial Response, SD=Stable Disease | Full-text journal articles are available upon request. Contact us if you would like a copy
We cannot guarantee the completeness of this list. Please contact us if you know of additional treatment results. Always consult with a physician before making treatment decisions. A list of physicians experienced in treating chordoma patients can be found in our Doctor Database.