The purpose of this study is to see if treating cancer with radiation therapy administered by the Varian Ethos system can control patient's tumor and eliminate the need for surgery used to treat nerves in the spine flattened by pressure (compressed).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
The treatment regimen consists of 8.0 Gy of radiation therapy administered on the Varian Ethos platform, delivered over five (5) fractions prescribed to the planning target volume (PTV) over 4 weeks, with one (1) to two (2) fractions delivered weekly and at least 48 hours between any two fractions.
University of Miami
Miami, Florida, United States
Rate of Safe Avoidance of Surgery
The rate of safe avoidance of surgery will be reported as the number of participants experiencing both (1) the absence of local progression at the treated spine level (s), and (2) the absence of surgery at the treated spine level(s) due to disease progression and/or structural instability, after completion of protocol therapy.
Time frame: 6 months
Investigator Confidence in Ethos Virtual Magnetic Resonance (MR) Workflow
Investigators participating in the protocol, including physicians, physicists, dosimetrists and therapists, will complete an in-house longitudinal usability survey before each treatment session to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction and learnability of the Ethos virtual magnetic resonance (MR) workflow. An Ethos emulator that allows investigators to evaluate contour and plan generation in advance of treatment delivery will assist in streamlining this process.
Time frame: Day 1 of Treatment, Up to 4 weeks
Rate of Radiation Myelopathy (RM)
The rate of radiation myelopathy will be reported as the number of participants with change in scores on the Modified McCormick Scale from a baseline score of A, B, or C to post-treatment score of D or E as recorded at interval follow-ups (weekly during radiation therapy, two, three and six months after protocol enrollment). Scores of D or E indicate a higher degree of neurologic deterioration. The treating physician will determine if scores are probably or definitely related to protocol therapy and not to surgery or local progression of tumor. Scores on the Modified McCormick Scale are as follows: A = No abnormality; B = Focal minor symptom (e.g. pain); C = Functional paresis; D = Nonfunctional paresis; and E = Paralysis or incontinence.
Time frame: Baseline, Up to 8 months
Rate of Vertebral Compression Fracture (VCF)
The rate of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is determined by the number of participants who develop VCF possibly, probably, or definitely related to the protocol therapy, as opposed to tumor progression. This is assessed and determined by the treating physician by reviewing the initial MRI done prior to starting protocol therapy compared to MRI scans done at follow up visits after receiving protocol therapy.
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Time frame: Up to 2 years
Number of Participants Experiencing Grade 2 or Higher Treatment-Related Adverse Events
The number of participants experiencing grade 2 or higher adverse events, probably or definitely related to protocol therapy will be reported. Adverse events will be assessed by the treating physician using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5 (NCI CTCAE v5).
Time frame: Up to 12 months
Quality of Life Among Study As Measured by Scores on PROMIS Short Form Version 1.0
Quality of life among participants will be measured by scores on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Short Form version 1.0. PROMIS Short Form version 1.0 consists of targeted, fixed-length questionnaires derived from National Institute of Health (NIH) item banks to measure physical, mental, and social health domains. Scores use a T-score metric standardized to a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 relative to the general population. PROMIS Short Form version 1.0 scores will be measured at baseline, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after protocol enrollment.
Time frame: Baseline, Up to 6 months
Rate of Ambulation Preservation
Ambulation status among participants will be evaluated on a four-level scale where a score of 0 = normal, 1 = walking with one cane, 2 = walking with a walker frame, and 3 = walking not possible. Scores of 3 at interval follow-up indicate loss of independent ambulation. The rate of ambulation preservation is the number of patients with preservation divided by the total number of patients on study. Preservation is determined by comparing baseline ambulatory score to interval follow up score.
Time frame: Up to 2 years