Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cancer Manag Res 2020 2;12:4129-4137. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Musculoskeletal Tumor Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Our research aimed to illuminate the role of miR-100-5p in chordoma and potential mechanism.

Materials And Methods: We used microRNA array analysis to explore differentially expressed miRNAs in chordoma tissue and then verified by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation and transwell assay were used to evaluate the function of miR-100-5p. Read More

J Am Chem Soc 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States.

Measurements of very low levels of biomolecules, including proteins and nucleic acids, remain a critical challenge in many clinical diagnostic applications due to insufficient sensitivity. While digital measurement methods such as Single Molecule Arrays (Simoa), or digital ELISA, have made significant advances in sensitivity, there are still many potential disease biomarkers that exist in accessible biofluids at levels below the detection limits of these techniques. To overcome this barrier, we have developed a simple strategy for single molecule counting, dropcast single molecule assays (dSimoa), that enables more target molecules to be counted through increased sampling efficiency and with a simpler workflow. Read More

Insights Imaging 2020 Jun 29;11(1):80. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.

Spinal osseous neoplasms are frequently encountered and can be challenging when present as solitary lesions. Familiarity with the range of benign and malignant spinal pathology can help the radiologist formulate a comprehensive differential diagnosis. This article focuses on the spectrum of extradural spinal tumors, accounting for the majority of primary spinal tumors, by comparing the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and characteristic imaging appearance of these lesions. Read More

J Pathol Transl Med 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.

Meningiomas in bone are rarely subjected to fine-needle aspiration diagnosis, and those arising in the skull bone with a cystic presentation are rare. A 24-year-old woman presented with subdural hemorrhage, and subsequent radiology depicted an osteolytic mass-like lesion in the sphenoid bone. Intraoperatively, a solid and cystic hemorrhagic lesion mimicking an aneurysmal bone cyst was observed in the sphenoid bone with dural tearing. Read More

World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020 Jun 18;6(2):125-131. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Background: Chordomas are locally invasive neoplasms, arising from notochordal remnants and can appear anywhere along the axial skeleton. Local recurrences are common, and distant metastases may occur years after the initial presentation.

Methods: Literature review of current treatment strategies for chordomas of the skull base. Read More

World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2020 Jun 8;6(2):118-124. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital - Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Pediatric skull base lesions are complex and challenging disorders. Safe and comprehensive management of this diverse group of disorders requires the expertise of an experienced multidisciplinary skull base team. Adult endoscopic skull base surgery has evolved due to technologic and surgical advancements, multidisciplinary team approaches, and continued innovation. Read More

Biosci Rep 2020 06;40(6)

J Pathol Clin Res 2020 Jun 23. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Research Department of Pathology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.

The largest whole genome sequencing (WGS) endeavour involving cancer and rare diseases was initiated in the UK in 2015 and ran for 5 years. Despite its rarity, sarcoma ranked third overall among the number of patients' samples sent for sequencing. Herein, we recount the lessons learned by a specialist sarcoma centre that recruited close to 1000 patients to the project, so that we and others may learn from our experience. Read More

Clin Lung Cancer 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX.

J Neurosurg 2020 Jun 19:1-10. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

1Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda.

Objective: To gain insight into the role of germline genetics in the development of chordoma, the authors evaluated data from 2 sets of patients with familial chordoma, those with and without a germline duplication of the T gene (T-dup+ vs T-dup-), which was previously identified as a susceptibility mechanism in some families. The authors then compared the patients with familial tumors to patients with sporadic chordoma in the US general population reported to the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program through 2015.

Methods: Evaluation of family members included review of personal and family medical history, physical and neurological examination, and pre- and postcontrast MRI of the skull base and spine. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Urology Clinic Perugia-Terni, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital Piazzale Menghini, Perugia, Italy.

Onco Targets Ther 2020 26;13:4755-4765. Epub 2020 May 26.

The Center for Pain Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Chordoma is a malignant primary bone tumor that is found in the spine and skull. X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is known to be involved in the development of various cancers, but its precise function and mechanism in human chordoma have not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the role of lncRNA XIST in chordoma progression. Read More

Onco Targets Ther 2020 25;13:4649-4663. Epub 2020 May 25.

Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Chordoma is a malignant tumor predominantly involving the skull base and vertebral column. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics of and in conventional and chondroid chordomas and their correlation with clinical prognosis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 42 patients were enrolled, including 26 patients with conventional chordoma and 16 patients with chondroid chordoma. Read More

Curr Opin Oncol 2020 Jul;32(4):339-343

Medical Oncology Department, Centre Leon Berard, Lyon, France.

Purpose Of Review: First clinical trials investigating immune check point (ICP) inhibitors in patients with sarcoma, regardless histological or molecular subtypes did not demonstrate any prolonged benefit. To maximize the chance of benefit from immunotherapy, recent strategies explore the combination of treatments and aim to improve identification of responsive histological subtypes.

Recent Findings: Combination of several ICP inhibitors tends to increase toxicity and efficacy. Read More

Aging (Albany NY) 2020 Jun 13;12(11):10809-10826. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China.

Chordoma is a rare bone cancer originating from embryologic notochordal remnants. Clival chordomas show different dural penetration ability, with serious dural penetration exhibiting poorer prognosis. The molecular mechanism of dural penetration is not clear. Read More

Clin Transl Med 2020 Jan;10(1):224-237

Department of Spine Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Background: Currently, the measurement of immune cells in previous studies is usually subjective, and no immune-based prognostic model has been established for chordoma. In this study, we sought to simultaneously measure tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) subtypes in chordoma samples using an objective method and develop an immune risk score (IRS) model for survival prediction.

Methods: Multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence staining was used to determine the TIL levels in the tumoral and stromal subareas of 114 spinal chordoma specimens (54 in the training and 60 in the validation cohort) for programmed death-1 (PD-1), CD3, CD8, CD20 (where CD is cluster of differentiation), and FOXP3. Read More

Clin Transl Oncol 2020 Jun 5. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Orthopedics, North Garden Street, Peking University Third Hospital, No. 49, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.

Purpose: Chordoma is a rare tumor of the skeletal system that is characterized by a high recurrence rate and treatment resistance. Given the common finding of immune dysregulation in chordoma, immunotherapy has emerged as potential treatment option. As an important immune checkpoint regulator, we evaluated cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) expression and its prognostic significance for patients with chordoma of the spine. Read More

Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi 2020 Jun;58(6):430-434

Department of Orthopedic Oncology Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China.

The specialty of bone cancer has developed rapidly in China in recent years, but because of the low incidence of these diseases and the unbalanced development of different regions, the malpractice problem of diagnosis and treatment is still outstanding.The NCCN clinical practice guide for bone cancer in the United States has been updated for several years and is now more mature and has been recognized worldwide.It can provide reference for medical professionals in related fields in China, it covers the most common bone tumors such as osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, giant cell tumor of bone and chordoma. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2020 9;11:99. Epub 2020 May 9.

Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois, United States.

Background: Endoscopic endonasal transclival approaches provide direct access to the ventral skull base allowing the treating of clival and paraclival pathology without the manipulation of the brain or neurovascular structures. Postoperative spinal fluid leak, however, remains a challenge and various techniques have been described to reconstruct the operative defect. The "gasket seal" has been well-described, but has anatomic challenges when applied to clival defects. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

Departments of Neurosurgery , The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Columbus, OH, USA; Head and Neck Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Columbus, OH, USA.

Chordomas are slow-growing, low-grade, locally invasive and locally aggressive tumors. They peak at 40 - 60 years of age, with a male preponderance (2:1). Belonging to the sarcoma family and thought to develop from the notochord remnant, they are most commonly found in the midline, with half located at the sacrum and about one third at the skull base. Read More

Head Neck 2020 May 30. Epub 2020 May 30.

National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Chiba, Japan.

Background: We evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for skull base chordoma, a rare neoplasm.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with skull base chordoma who were treated with C-ion RT were prospectively enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. C-ion RT was delivered with 60. Read More

Neurosurg Rev 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Department of Neurosurgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital and Humanitas University, Viale Alessandro Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Chordoma is a rare slow-growing neoplastic bone lesion. However, they show an invasive local growth and high recurrence rate, leading to an overall survival rate of 65% at 5 years and 35% at 10 years. We conducted a pooled and meta-analysis comparing recurrence rate, post-operative-complications, and survival in patients undergoing either microsurgical (MA) or endoscopic approaches (EA). Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2020 May 27;20(1):377. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.

Background: Candida diddensiae, a yeast found in olive oil, is considered non-pathogenic to humans. Here, we describe the first case of fungemia caused by C. diddensiae in a hospitalized patient with underlying diseases. Read More

Sarcoma 2020 4;2020:2984043. Epub 2020 May 4.

Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.

Objective: Few studies have evaluated the prognostic implication of the length of time from diagnosis to treatment initiation in bone sarcoma. The purpose of this study is to determine if time to treatment initiation (TTI) influences overall survival in adults diagnosed with primary bone sarcoma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Database identified 2,122 patients who met inclusion criteria with localized, high-grade bone sarcoma diagnosed between 2004 and 2012. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2020 May 22:1-6. Epub 2020 May 22.

Reconstruction of the spinopelvic continuity after sacral resection for primary sacral tumors remains challenging. Complex anatomical and biomechanical factors of this transition zone may be addressed with the advancement of 3D-printed implants. Here, the authors report on a 67-year-old patient with a sacral chordoma who initially underwent total en bloc sacrectomy followed by standard spinopelvic reconstruction. Read More

Medicina (B Aires) 2020 ;80(3):302

Servicio de Neurocirugía, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Korean J Fam Med 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia.

Clival chordoma is a rare malignant tumor of the brain that typically occurs in older adults. It has a high local recurrence rate and is hence associated with poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of an adolescent who presented with a 1-month history of worsening headache and blurring of vision, as well as a 6-month history of left-sided facial and body numbness. Read More

Am J Surg Pathol 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

Departments of Pathology.

Dedifferentiated chordoma is a rare chordoma subtype characterized by a high-grade sarcoma juxtaposed to conventional chordoma. We identified a series of dedifferentiated chordomas, reviewed clinicopathologic features, performed next-generation sequencing in select cases, and analyzed all related English-language publications. Our series included 7 men and 3 women (age 15 to 80 y [median: 54 y]; <1% of >1000 chordomas surveyed). Read More

Laryngoscope 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

Center for Cranial Base Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Objectives/hypothesis: The contralateral transmaxillary (CTM) approach is a new surgical approach that improves the surgical trajectory relative to the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Here, we present our clinical experience with the CTM approach to the petroclival region of the skull base.

Study Design: Retrospective review. Read More

Oncogene 2020 Jun 14;39(24):4711-4727. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.

Chordoma, a rare neoplasm derived from intraosseous notochordal remnants, is unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is a crucial fetal notochord-secreted morphogen that directs notochordal development. The aim of this study was to determine the functional roles and therapeutic potential of Shh-Gli1 signaling in chordomas. Read More

Eur J Surg Oncol 2020 Apr 27. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.

Objective: Aim of the manuscript is to discuss how to improve margins in sacral chordoma.

Background: Chordoma is a rare neoplasm, arising in half cases from the sacrum, with reported local failure in >50% after surgery.

Methods: A multidisciplinary meeting of the "Chordoma Global Consensus Group" was held in Milan in 2017, focusing on challenges in defining and achieving optimal margins in chordoma with respect to surgery, definitive particle radiation therapy (RT) and medical therapies. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2020 May;73(5):362-365

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center, Fuchu, Japan.

A 71-year-old woman presented to our hospital with fever and dyspnea. Computed tomography showed shadows of bilateral pneumonia and anterior vertebral mass. She was admitted to our hospital for respiratory failure. Read More

Radiat Oncol 2020 May 6;15(1):96. Epub 2020 May 6.

Center for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 PSI West, Villigen, Switzerland.

Background: Skull base chordomas are rare and heterogeneously behaving tumors. Though still classified as benign they can grow rapidly, are locally aggressive, and have the potential to metastasize. To adapt the treatment to the specific needs of patients at higher risk of recurrence, a pre-proton therapy prognostic grading system would be useful. Read More

Int J Surg Pathol 2020 May 4:1066896920916784. Epub 2020 May 4.

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.

. Chondromyxoid fibromas are rare tumors of cartilaginous origin typically found in long bones. They usually present during the second and third decades of life. Read More

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2020 Apr 30. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: Proton treatment slots are still a limited resource. Combined proton-photon treatments, in which most fractions are delivered with photons and only a few with protons, may represent a practical solution to optimize the allocation of proton resources over the patient population. We demonstrate how a limited number of proton fractions can be optimally used in multi-modality treatments, also addressing the issue of the robustness of combined treatments against proton range uncertainties. Read More

Rhinology 2020 Apr 30. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Background: Among chordoma patients, recurrent cases are by far more complex to be managed, and cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) localizations represent a particular challenge due to the complexity of the anatomical region which makes it difficult to obtain a radical resection.

Methodology: We report our personal experience in treating four patients with recurrent CCJ chordoma with "personalized" multiportal and eventually multistage approaches.

Conclusions: Endoscopic endonasal approaches have gained widespread acceptance and are considered the workhorse in most cases of craniocervical junction chordomas. Read More

JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc 2020 Mar;58(223):192-194

Department of Critical Care Medicine, B & C Medical College Teaching Hospital & Research Center, Birtamode, Jhapa, Nepal.

Intradural spinal epidermoid cysts are rare, benign lesions either acquired from trauma, surgery, lumbar puncture or arise as congenital lesions, particularly associated with spinal dysraphism. Epidermoid cyst arising from the spine with expansile destruction of vertebrae has not been reported yet in the literature. We report a case of 36-years male presented with history of fall 8 years back with progressive symptoms of lower back pain, weakness of left lower limb and bladder/bowel incontinence. Read More

J Neurooncol 2020 May 28;148(1):173-178. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Purpose: Chordomas account for 1% to 4% of all bone malignancies and 0.5% of all primary intracranial central nervous system tumors. Prior epidemiologic literature is based on limited population data. Read More

Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2020 Jun 25;162(6):1259-1268. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université de Paris, 2 rue Ambroise Pare, 75010, Paris, France.

Background: Surgical treatment of lesions involving the ventral craniovertebral junction (CVJ) and the lower clivus, traditionally involved complex lateral or transoral approaches to the skull base. However, mid or upper clivus involvement requires more extensive lateral approaches. Recently, the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) has become the standard for upper CVJ lesions and medial clival, and a valuable alternative for those tumors extending in its upper third as well as laterally. Read More

Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown) 2020 Apr 23. Epub 2020 Apr 23.

Department of Neurosurgery, Lariboisiere Hospital, University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France.

Background: Vascular encasement by skull base chordomas can increase surgical risk and hinder completeness of resection. However, the evidence behind this remains anecdotic.

Objective: To give a better portrayal of chordomas encasing vertebrobasilar arteries mainly in regard of surgical vascular risk and its impact on extent of resection. Read More

Oncoimmunology 2020 12;9(1):1747340. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Early trials for immune checkpoint inhibitors in sarcomas have delivered mixed results, and efforts to improve outcomes now look to combinatorial strategies with novel immunotherapeutics, including some that target macrophages. To enhance our understanding of the sarcoma immune landscape, we quantified and characterized tumor-associated macrophage infiltration and expression of the targetable macrophage-related immune checkpoint CD47/SIRPα across sarcoma types. We surveyed immunohistochemical expression of CD68, CD163, CD47, and SIRPα in tissue microarrays of 1242 sarcoma specimens (spanning 24 types). Read More

Case Rep Oncol 2020 Jan-Apr;13(1):255-260. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation.

Sacral chordoma is a rare tumour that represents the most common malignancy of the sacral region. Its diagnosis can be delayed because of unclear clinical manifestation. This tumour can involve surrounding anatomical structure such as the rectum, and its surgical treatment is still challenging. Read More

J Neurooncol 2020 Apr 18. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Departments of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Skull base primary malignancies represent a heterogeneous group of histologic diagnoses and sarcomas of the skull base are specific malignant tumors that arise from mesenchymal cells and can be classified by site of origin into bony and soft tissue sarcomas. The most common bony sarcomas include: chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, chordoma, Ewing's sarcoma. Given the relative rarity of each histologic diagnosis, especially in the skull base, there is limited published data to guide the management of patients with skull base sarcomas. Read More

World Neurosurg 2020 Apr 13;139:132-135. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Division of Neurosurgery, Valleywise Health Medical Center, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Chordomas are rare, slow-growing, locally aggressive, malignant tumors of the spine. Chordomas are conventionally treated with surgical resection with or without radiation. There is an absence of literature documenting the natural history of a primary sacral chordoma. Read More

Cancer Biol Ther 2020 Jul 16;21(7):623-628. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital , Beijing, China.

Objective: Retrospective analysis of the long-term clinical outcome and acute toxicity of the primary malignant tumor of cervical spine receiving CBCT image-guided VMAT.

Methods: Thirty patients with primary malignant tumor of the cervical spine included in our center, from December 2013 to January 2016, 28 patients were retrospectively studied. The prescription dosage 95% PTV volume dose was 44 Gy, 2. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Apr 6;13(4). Epub 2020 Apr 6.

Neurosciences and Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2020 Apr 3. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Introduction: Australia's first proton beam therapy (PBT) service, The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research, is scheduled to open in the near future providing PBT for patients closer to home. Patients currently access Commonwealth funding for PBT via the Medicare Medical Treatment Overseas Program (MTOP). Proton versus photon treatment planning is a pre-requisite for the MTOP application. Read More

Ann Saudi Med 2020 Mar-Apr;40(2):94-104. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

From the Division of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Endoscopic transnasal surgery has gained rapid global acceptance over the last two decades. The growing literature and understanding of anterior skull base endoscopic anatomy, in addition to new dedicated endoscopic instruments and tools, have helped to expand the use of the transnasal route in skull base surgery.

Objective: Report our early experience in expanded endoscopic transnasal surgery (EETS) and approach to skull base neoplasms. Read More