What the study found
The study found that quantitative nuclear morphometry, an analysis of nuclear size and shape, aligned with immunophenotype and genomic profiling in recurrent chordoma. It also found that recurrent and metastatic cases showed longitudinal nuclear remodeling, including larger and more asymmetric nuclei, altered shape, and lower lamin A/C expression.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that this approach may provide a quantitative framework for future digital pathology or AI approaches, pending validation in larger cohorts. The study suggests this could help capture recurrence-associated phenotypic remodeling in chordoma.
What the researchers tested
The researchers studied 26 specimens from 12 adults, including 8 patients with non-recurrent tumors and 4 patients with multiple long-term recurrences and metastases over 7 to 16 years. They used whole-exome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and nuclear morphometry to compare imaging, routine histology, nuclear features, protein expression, and tumor mutational burden.
What worked and what didn't
Imaging studies and routine histology did not show consistent differences between the two groups. Morphometry showed substantial variability among non-recurrent tumors and significant nuclear remodeling across recurrences, with primary tumors from patients who later recurred showing smaller, more asymmetric, and denser nuclei than non-recurrent tumors. Recurrent samples also showed higher proliferation, decreased lamin A/C expression, and a low overall tumor mutational burden that varied between patients and timepoints and tended to be higher in recurrent cases.
What to keep in mind
The study was based on a small sample from 12 adults, including only 4 patients with long-term recurrent and metastatic disease. The authors note that the proposed framework needs validation in larger cohorts.
Key points
- Quantitative nuclear morphometry matched immunophenotype and genomic profiling in chordoma.
- Recurrent and metastatic samples showed larger, more asymmetric nuclei and altered nuclear shape.
- Primary tumors from patients who later recurred had smaller, more asymmetric, and denser nuclei.
- Recurrent samples showed higher proliferation and decreased lamin A/C expression.
- Tumor mutational burden was low overall and tended to be higher in recurrent cases.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Nuclear shape changes tracked recurrent chordoma
- Authors:
- Sarah R. Ullmann, Julian Schreier, Juan Carlos Alberto Uribe Caputi, Marilena Georgiades, Joana Maria Ullmann, Christoph H. Lohmann, Martin Röpke, Denny Schanze, Sabine Franke, Franziska Sabrina Karras, A. Roessner
- Institutions:
- Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga, University of Rostock
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-11
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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