Efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor targeting in advanced chordoma: case report and literature review

Simon Launay (1) , Bruno Chetaille (1) , Fanny Medina (1) , Delphine Perrot (1) , Serge Nazarian (2) , Jérôme Guiramand (1) , Laurence Moureau-Zabotto (1) , François Bertucci (1, 3)

1 Institut Paoli-Calmettes
2 LA CONCEPTION - Hôpital de la Conception [CHU - APHM]
3 AMU - Aix Marseille Université

Abstract Background Chordomas are very rare low-grade malignant bone tumors that arise from the embryonic rests of the notochord. They are characterized by slow growth and long history with frequent local relapses, and sometimes metastases. While chemotherapy is not efficient, imatinib has shown antitumor activity. Case presentation We report on a 76-year-old patient with EGFR-overexpressing advanced chordoma that progressed on imatinib and subsequently responded to erlotinib during 12 months. Conclusions We report the fourth case of advanced chordoma treated with an EGFR inhibitor. We also review the literature concerning the rationale and potential of EGFR targeting in chordoma.

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cancer

Simon Launay, Bruno Chetaille, Fanny Medina, Delphine Perrot, Serge Nazarian, et al.. Efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor targeting in advanced chordoma: case report and literature review. BMC Cancer, 2011, 11 (1), pp.423. ⟨10.1186/1471-2407-11-423⟩. ⟨hal-03623791⟩