title: Effectiveness of cetuximab/gefitinib in the therapy of a sacral chordoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chordomas are rare tumors of the skull base and the spine. Treatment is difficult since conventional radiotherapy or chemotherapy have only limited effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with a sacral chordoma and pulmonary metastases received initial surgery and radiotherapy for a local recurrence. After 11 months another local recurrence as well as a progression of the pulmonary metastases was documented. As tumor biopsies revealed the expression of the EGF receptor an individual treatment approach with a combination of cetuximab and gefitinib was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under the treatment with cetuximab/gefitinib the local recurrence and the pulmonary metastases showed a partial response over the follow-up period of 9 months. To date no treatment failure was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhibition of the EGF pathway seems to be an effective measure in the treatment of a chordoma. Further follow-up will have to prove the long-term efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. holger.hof@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welzel
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debus
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002817:Chordoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012447:Sacrum; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D011799:Quinazolines; D000068818:Cetuximab; D000077156:Gefitinib