NCT03529708

Brief Summary

Spinal cord compression (SCC) is a devastating complication of advanced malignancy, and can cause significant deterioration in function and quality of life (QoL). The goal of treatment is to improve functional status and symptoms, but the optimal treatment regimen for these patients has not been thoroughly established. Many patients with SCC present with uncontrolled systemic disease and poor performance status, and are not eligible for standard surgical resection. They are generally treated with 3D conformal palliative RT (3DCRT) alone, however recent trials suggest that less than 70% of patients are ambulatory, that the re-establishment of ambulation in non-ambulatory patients is poor, and the duration of improvement is guarded with radiotherapy alone. Recently, stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) used alone or after previous radiotherapy to treat spinal metastasis has demonstrated superior results in pain control, tumour response and durability. SBRT requires time for careful planning, and many patients with neurologic symptoms must be treated immediately to prevent progression. Therefore the role of SBRT is still unclear in this patient population, although it seems to be a potential alternative to surgical decompression in patient not suitable for surgery. The investigators propose a feasibility study to investigate the potential benefits of dose escalation with a sequential SBRT boost to urgent 3D CRT in the setting of SCC. This regimen will allow inoperable patients to receive urgent 3DCRT while simultaneously creating the opportunity for superior outcomes with SBRT. The investigators also aim to characterize the effect on motor function and ambulation, pain and QoL. This study could stimulate further multi-center randomized trials in this area, improve motor function and patient-reported QoL, and contribute to improving oncology care in Canada in a meaningful way.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
30

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2018

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 24, 2018

Completed
24 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 18, 2018

Completed
14 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2018

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2020

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

January 29, 2020

Status Verified

January 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

April 24, 2018

Last Update Submit

January 27, 2020

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Feasibility of accrual

    Success determined by accrual of 30 patients with SBRT boost is planned and delivered to 80% of these

    up to 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (7)

  • Motor Function Description:

    4 weeks (primary), 12 weeks, 6 months

  • Overall Quality of Life (QoL)

    4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months

  • Pain Response

    4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months

  • Local Control

    12 weeks, 6 months

  • Toxicity

    4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months

  • +2 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (1)

SBRT boost

EXPERIMENTAL

Standard radiotherapy (3D conformal, urgent palliative radiotherapy) plus stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) boost

Radiation: 3D CRT plus SBRT boost

Interventions

Patients will receive urgent standard 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) of plus stereotactic boost to tumor causing spinal cord compression (SCC). Initial dose for 3D CRT will be either 8Gy in 1 fraction or 20Gy in 5 fractions, with SBRT boost dose15Gy in 2 fractions of 12Gy in 2 fractions (depending on 8Gy/1 or 20Gy/5 initial RT dose respectively), delivered within three weeks of first treatment.

SBRT boost

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Diagnosis of metastatic malignancy (radiologic or pathologic)
  • Evidence of disease in vertebral body with epidural component such that Bilsky radiologic score is 1c-2 on MRI (abuts spinal cord without cord compression (1c), or spinal cord compression but with visible CSF (2)
  • Motor function (MF) of 3 or greater

You may not qualify if:

  • Surgical candidate
  • Instability of vertebral bodies with or without bony retropulsion requiring surgical intervention or hardware placement
  • Previous radiotherapy course to same region of spine with overlapping fields (prior to phase I course) at discretion of treating radiation oncologist
  • No CT or MRI within previous 3 months
  • Life expectancy estimated \<3 months
  • Performance status KPS\<40
  • On active chemotherapy or targeted therapy or immunotherapy (must be stopped for at least one week prior to and following)
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Contraindications to radiotherapy (eg. active autoimmune disease requiring medication)
  • Inability to lie flat comfortably for at least 20 minutes
  • Age \< 18

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Juravinski Cancer Center

Hamilton, Ontario, L8V1C5, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Donovan EK, Greenspoon J, Schnarr KL, Whelan TJ, Wright JR, Hann C, Whitton A, Chow T, Parpia S, Swaminath A. A pilot study of stereotactic boost for malignant epidural spinal cord compression: clinical significance and initial dosimetric evaluation. Radiat Oncol. 2020 Nov 18;15(1):267. doi: 10.1186/s13014-020-01710-4.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord CompressionCauda Equina Syndrome

Interventions

Radiotherapy, Conformal

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesSpinal Cord InjuriesWounds and InjuriesNerve Compression SyndromesPeripheral Nervous System DiseasesNeuromuscular DiseasesPolyradiculoneuropathyPolyneuropathies

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Radiotherapy, Computer-AssistedRadiotherapyTherapeutics

Central Study Contacts

Elysia K Donovan, MD,FRCPC

CONTACT

Shelley Chambers, MA

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Model Details: Single arm pilot study of standard of care 3D conformal radiotherapy plus Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) boost
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Elysia Donovan, MD FRCPC, Radiation Oncology, McMaster University

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 24, 2018

First Posted

May 18, 2018

Study Start

June 1, 2018

Primary Completion

June 1, 2020

Study Completion

December 1, 2020

Last Updated

January 29, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations