title: Chordoma: results of radiation therapy in eighteen patients.
abstract: Between 1975 and 1990, eighteen patients with a histologically proven diagnosis of chordoma were treated at our institution. All patients initially underwent a surgical procedure and were referred for irradiation due to residual disease or postsurgical relapse. The mean dose administered was 50.1 Gy (range, 29.9-64.8 Gy). Eight patients were treated according to a hyperfractionated schedule. The overall actuarial 5-year survival and 5-year progression-free survival were 38% and 17%, respectively. The progression-free interval was longer for patients receiving doses greater than 48 Gy when compared with doses below 40 Gy (actuarial 5-year progression-free survival of 31 +/- 35% vs. 0%, respectively; p = 0.04). We conclude that in the treatment of chordoma, the administration of high radiation doses may increase the disease-free interval. The objective response and dose-response relationships were analyzed in twelve patients for whom sequential CT scans were available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cardenes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: la Torre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valcarcel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magallon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Regueiro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aragon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002817:Chordoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate