This is a pilot, experimental, monocentric study. The main objective of the study is to evaluate whether stereotactic radiotherapy is able to reduce symptomatic spasticity from a clinical point of view, and therefore induce an improvement in posture and quality of life in patients with malignant spasticity. The study foresees the enrollment of about 10 patients, in a period of 24 months. The radiotherapy treatment will be delivered in a single session with an image-guided stereotaxic technique, and a prescription dose between 45 and 60 Gy; subsequently the patients will be followed up for one year.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
The treatment will be administered with a TrueBeam™ (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA, USA) linac, equipped with a Millenium 120-leaves MLC. The target will be represented by 5 mm of the specific spinal nerve responsible for the spams. A lateral 1 mm margin will be added to the target to generate the corresponding planning treatment volume (PTV). The prescribed dose will be 45-60 Gy in a single fraction. The treatment dose will be chosen based on patients' general condition, and possibility to respect the dose limits (constraints) for the organs at risk (OARs).
IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria di Negrar
Negrar, Verona, Italy
RECRUITINGMAS
Reduction of Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) after SRS. A reduction of at least 1 point is considered for response evaluation.
Time frame: 1 year after treatment
Acute and late toxicity (CTCAE)
Acute and late toxicity according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE version 5.0). More specifically, acute toxicity will be defined as any event occurred within 90 days from the RT treatment while late toxicity will be defined as any event recorded after this time.
Time frame: 90 days from the RT treatment
Quality of life (SF-12)
SF-12® Questionnaire will be administered to evaluate quality of life previously and after treatment (not applicable for patients in minimally conscious state).
Time frame: 1 year after treatment
Quality of nursing (VAS)
Visual Analogic Scale (VAS will be administered to the care-giver in minimally conscious state patient (VAS 1: many difficulties in nursing, VAS 10: none difficulties in nursing) before and after treatment.
Time frame: 1 year after treatment
Radiological characteristics and treatment-related changes of the spinal roots
The radiological characteristics and treatment-related changes of the spinal roots will be evaluated with multiparametric MR. Specific quantitative analyzed parameter will be: fractional anisotropy and diffusivity. Changes in morphology will be evaluated with a MR scan acquired 6 months after SRS.
Time frame: 6 months after SRS
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