title: Expression study of the target receptor tyrosine kinase of Imatinib mesylate in skull base chordomas.
abstract: Chordomas are rare neoplasms arising along the axial skeleton. Up to now, the most suitable therapeutic approach is based on a combination of surgical excision and radiotherapy. Chemotherapy in not applied due to its reported low efficacy. Recently, evidence on the efficacy of Imatinib mesylate in two patients has been reported. We analyzed 14 chordoma samples for the expression of the Imatinib mesylate targets by means of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry and found that PDGFR alpha and PDGFR beta are in some cases expressed in neoplastic cells, while the stromal counterpart of the same tumor shows the above receptors. Findings on the PDGFA/PDGFB expression suggest a receptor-activated status. Our study provides new insights into the specific localization of Imatinib mesylate targets in skull base chordomas that could be taken into account for the setting up of a pharmacological treatment for this tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Genetics, Medical Faculty, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orzan
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Terreni
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longoni
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boari
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mortini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Doglioni
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D002817:Chordoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta