Chordoma is a rare bone cancer of the skull base and spine, about 300 US cases a year. It grows slowly but often returns. Treatment is careful surgery and high-dose proton or carbon ion radiation. No drug is approved, so research is testing targeted pills, immunotherapy and new drug conjugates.
- 24studies open or running
- 222papers published this year
- 14NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Proton therapy controls most tumorsHappened 77% controlled at 5 yrs
77% local control at 5 years after proton therapy.
77%: local control at 5 years.
Particle radiation for sacral chordomaHappened 81% alive at 4 years
Pills slow but rarely shrinkHappened 8.41 mo before growth
Targeted pills gave 8.41 months before growth on average.
8.41 mo: median time before growth.
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6 months
by May 2027
Immunotherapy plus chemotherapyLong shot
A small trial of pembrolizumab with pemetrexed for progressing chordoma finishes November 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
New targeted pills and conjugatesLong shot
Trials of ERAS-601 (MSK) and BL-B01D1 (China) for advanced chordoma finish in 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
EGFR-targeted treatmentLong shot
MD Anderson is testing cetuximab, an EGFR antibody, for chordoma that cannot be removed.
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5 years
by late 2031
Better targeted radiation planningLong shot
UCSF is developing biology-based planning for particle therapy.
The research paths
Radiation
77% controlled at 5 yrsDetailsHide
Proton and carbon ion therapy refine dose and schedules.
WatchLong-term control.
Drugs
8.41 mo before growthDetails and 4 trialsHide
Targeted pills, EGFR antibodies, drug conjugates and immunotherapy.
WatchERAS-601 and BL-B01D1.
- ERAS-601 (SHP2 inhibitor)Memorial Sloan Kettering · 12 people · fully enrolled Apr 2027
- BL-B01D1 antibody-drug conjugateSichuan Baili · 27 people · fully enrolled Jun 2027
- CetuximabMD Anderson · 29 people · fully enrolled Sep 2028
- Pembrolizumab with pemetrexedSaint John's Cancer Institute · 21 people · enrolling Nov 2026
Borrowed from other cancers
From Leukemia and GIST
Imatinib
Off-label
A targeted pill used off-label to slow chordoma.
From Breast cancer
Palbociclib
Phase 2
A CDK4/6 inhibitor tested in CDKN2A-deleted chordoma.
Open to join now
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Progressive chordoma
Pembrolizumab with pemetrexed
Locations and eligibility → -
Solid tumors including chordoma, Florida
T cell-depleted cell therapy with zoledronic acid
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting Chordoma trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
Knowledge on the way
Not treatments yet: detection, causes and how care is delivered. Mostly NIH-funded.
- AreaQuestionFunded throughNews likely
- Program MD Anderson sarcoma research programMD Anderson · NIH Funded through Jul 2030 News likely Ongoing
What just happened
Proton therapy: 77% control at 5 years
Pooled analysis.
Palbociclib holds 39% stable
No tumors shrank.
Standard treatment today
- New diagnosisSurgery at a specialist center to remove as much as safely possible.
- After surgeryHigh-dose proton or carbon ion radiation.
- Cannot be removedParticle radiation alone.
- Advanced or recurrentImatinib or other targeted pills off-label; clinical trials.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Chordoma is rare, so trials are small and many include other rare tumors.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See Chordoma trials recruiting now →