MedTrace Logo

Intra-arterial Chemotherapy for Spinal Metastases

NCT01637766 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2020-08-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Metastatic malignant tumors comprise the vast majority of spinal tumors in adults. The most devastating complication of spinal metastatic disease (SMD) is invasion of the spinal canal and compression of the spinal cord or the nerve roots of the cauda equina, resulting in a clinical entity known as cord compression that manifests with progressive loss of motor function and sensation in the legs, as well as bladder and bowel incontinence.

The treatment of spinal metastases is mostly palliative with the goals of improving or maintaining neurologic function, achieving local tumor control, and spinal stability. Most patients with spinal metastatic disease are currently treated effectively with radiation therapy and/or surgery with good results. There are however certain limitations in the current treatment of SMD. Radiation therapy has two important limitations: 1) if the targeted SMD is in close proximity the spinal cord, delivery of high radiation doses is contraindicated as it may cause radiation-induced damage to the spinal cord (myelopathy, and 2) there is limit on the cumulative amount of radiation dose, which means that recurrent tumors may not be amenable to repeat radiation therapy. As far spinal surgery is concerned, the main limitation is that some patients are not fit for surgery because of medical co-morbidities.

This phase I clinical research trial will test the hypothesis that a new minimally invasive treatment called spinal intra-arterial chemotherapy (SIAC) can be safely applied in patients with SMD.

Conditions

  • Spinal Diseases
  • Spinal Metastases
  • Spinal Tumors

Interventions

DRUG

Melphalan (intra-arterial infusion)

Patients will undergo a minimally invasive procedure called spinal angiography. This procedure will identify the arteries feeding the tumor causing cord compression and will determine whether chemotherapy can be safely infused. The chemotherapy will be infused via a tiny soft plastic tube (called "microcatheter") at the tumor site over approximately 30 minutes. The drug of choice is melphalan (trade name Alkeran) at a maximum dose of 16mg/m2, adjusted for white cell count, platelet count and renal function. We will perform up to three intra-arterial chemotherapy treatments in 3-6 week intervals, based on the results of complete blood counts.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Weill Medical College of Cornell University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Athos Patsalides · Weill Cornell

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-04-30
Primary Completion
2018-04-30
Completion
2018-12-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01637766 on ClinicalTrials.gov