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Intrathecal Therapy Versus Standard Care for Severe Cancer Pain

NCT07691840 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 72

Last updated 2026-07-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Approximately 66% of patients with advanced cancer experience pain, which is often inadequately controlled and associated with a decline in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Conventional pharmacologic management, ranging from simple analgesics to strong opioids, is frequently limited by insufficient efficacy and systemic side effects. Intrathecal drug delivery (IDD) offers targeted, continuous medication infusion directly into the intrathecal space, allowing lower systemic doses and potentially reducing side effects while maintaining effective analgesia. The CAREGIVER study is a randomized, controlled trial designed to evaluate whether patients with severe refractory cancer pain receiving IDD experience a difference in HRQoL compared to those receiving conventional medical management (CMM) with oral pain medications.

Conditions

  • Intrathecal Drug Delivery
  • Refractory Cancer Pain
  • Conventional Medical Management

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Intrathecal Drug Delivery

Patients assigned to the IDD-group (intervention group) will undergo implantation of an IDD pump (Synchromed™, Medtronic). The device will be placed subcutaneously in the abdominal region and connected to a catheter delivering pain medication directly into the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. At the time of implantation, the pump will be filled with medication, such as morphine, local anesthetics, or a combination thereof, and an initial daily dose will be selected. In the days following surgery, dose titration will be performed to establish the optimal balance between pain relief and tolerability. Following implantation, the most common postoperative procedure is the drug refill. This involves aseptic access to the pump reservoir, removal of any residual volume, and replenishment with a fresh dose of medication. Refill intervals will depend on the patient's daily dosage, ranging from monthly to once every 2-3 months.

DRUG

Comprehensive Medical Management

Participants randomized to the CMM-group will receive standard care.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-07-01
Primary Completion
2029-10-31
Completion
2029-10-31

Countries

  • Belgium

Study Locations

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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 NCT07691840 on ClinicalTrials.gov