Advanced Techniques for Single-fraction Palliative Radiotherapy Versus ASPIRE-single

NCT ID: NCT04658537

Last Updated: 2026-02-05

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-29

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

One third of patients treated in the radiation oncology departments are treated with palliative intent. These patients can be unwell due to their advanced disease and suffering from pain and other symptoms related to metastases. Radiation therapy (RT) has an important role in the symptomatic relief and improvement in the quality of life (QoL) for these patients.The aim of the study is to determine if escalated single fraction palliative radiotherapy using intensity-modulated techniques results in a prolonged duration of benefit for patients otherwise suitable for standard single fraction radiotherapy.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Radiation therapy (RT) has an important role in the symptomatic relief and improvement in the quality of life (QoL) for palliative patients who can be unwell due to their advanced disease and who suffer from pain and other symptoms related to metastases.

A single fraction of 8Gy is considered a standard treatment. In an assessment of health related quality of life (HRQoL) after palliative RT for painful bone metastases, the overall radiotherapy response at 1 week was 45% and by week 2 was 62%. Patients had a significant decrease in pain, insomnia and constipation by 1 month post treatment and an improvement in emotional functioning. When RT is used to control a bleeding tumour, up to 90% of patients will experience haemostasis.

There is however concern that 8 Gy in 1 fraction will not provide a durable response, with up to 20% of patients requiring retreatment to the same site, compared with 8% who receive multiple fraction treatment. Single fraction palliative radiation therapy (SFRT) is therefore an under utilised treatment regimen.

To implement the higher doses with a single fraction, more advanced radiation techniques are required, and there is still equipoise regarding the benefits. With advances in linear accelerator design and software, it is now possible to treat patients with advanced radiation techniques and low resources. Standard clinical pathways including computer optimised planning, remote (virtual) QA of plan delivery and the use of diagnostic imaging for planning are all feasible (under currently in clinical use at Northern Sydney Cancer Centre).

The results from this study will be used to design / proceed to a Randomised Phase III study, if appropriate.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Palliative Radiotherapy Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Non Comparative Randomised Trial
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Investigators
Treatment arm will be masked to investigators. Participants will not be masked.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Standard Arm

8 Gy / 1 Fraction

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Radiation Therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

Cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours

Single Fraction Dose Escalation

8Gy Planning Target Volume / 12Gy Clinical Target Volume +/- 14Gy Gross Tumour Volume / 1 fraction

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Radiation Therapy

Intervention Type RADIATION

Cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Radiation Therapy

Cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumours

Intervention Type RADIATION

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Metastatic cancer
* Recommended for 8Gy/1# palliative radiation
* Patients with spinal cord compression are eligible for enrolment

Exclusion Criteria

* Unwilling or unable to give informed consent
* Patients who are recommended multi fraction palliative radiation
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Royal North Shore Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Professor Thomas Eade

Radiation Oncologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Thomas Eade

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Royal North Shore Hospital

Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Australia

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Thavarajah N, Wong K, Zhang L, Bedard G, Wong E, Tsao M, Danjoux C, Barnes E, Sahgal A, Dennis K, Holden L, Lauzon N, Chow E. Continued success in providing timely palliative radiation therapy at the Rapid Response Radiotherapy Program: a review of 2008-2012. Curr Oncol. 2013 Jun;20(3):e206-11. doi: 10.3747/co.20.1342.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23737690 (View on PubMed)

Wu JS, Wong R, Johnston M, Bezjak A, Whelan T; Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guidelines Initiative Supportive Care Group. Meta-analysis of dose-fractionation radiotherapy trials for the palliation of painful bone metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003 Mar 1;55(3):594-605. doi: 10.1016/s0360-3016(02)04147-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12573746 (View on PubMed)

Rich SE, Chow R, Raman S, Liang Zeng K, Lutz S, Lam H, Silva MF, Chow E. Update of the systematic review of palliative radiation therapy fractionation for bone metastases. Radiother Oncol. 2018 Mar;126(3):547-557. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2018.01.003. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29397209 (View on PubMed)

Caissie A, Zeng L, Nguyen J, Zhang L, Jon F, Dennis K, Holden L, Culleton S, Koo K, Tsao M, Barnes E, Danjoux C, Sahgal A, Simmons C, Chow E. Assessment of health-related quality of life with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C15-PAL after palliative radiotherapy of bone metastases. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2012 Mar;24(2):125-33. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2011.08.008. Epub 2011 Sep 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21917431 (View on PubMed)

Sapienza LG, Ning MS, Jhingran A, Lin LL, Leao CR, da Silva BB, Pellizzon ACA, Gomes MJL, Baiocchi G. Short-course palliative radiation therapy leads to excellent bleeding control: A single centre retrospective study. Clin Transl Radiat Oncol. 2018 Nov 22;14:40-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2018.11.007. eCollection 2019 Jan.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30555940 (View on PubMed)

Wu SY, Singer L, Boreta L, Garcia MA, Fogh SE, Braunstein SE. Palliative radiotherapy near the end of life. BMC Palliat Care. 2019 Mar 23;18(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s12904-019-0415-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30904024 (View on PubMed)

Schuler T, Back M, Hruby G, Carroll S, Jayamanne D, Kneebone A, Stevens M, Lamoury G, Morgia M, Wong S, Grimberg K, Roderick S, Booth J, Eade T. Introducing Computed Tomography Simulation-Free and Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes-Monitored Palliative Radiation Therapy into Routine Care: Clinical Outcomes and Implementation Experience. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Dec 3;6(2):100632. doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2020.100632. eCollection 2021 Mar-Apr.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33851063 (View on PubMed)

Nguyen QN, Chun SG, Chow E, Komaki R, Liao Z, Zacharia R, Szeto BK, Welsh JW, Hahn SM, Fuller CD, Moon BS, Bird JE, Satcher R, Lin PP, Jeter M, O'Reilly MS, Lewis VO. Single-Fraction Stereotactic vs Conventional Multifraction Radiotherapy for Pain Relief in Patients With Predominantly Nonspine Bone Metastases: A Randomized Phase 2 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2019 Jun 1;5(6):872-878. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.0192.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31021390 (View on PubMed)

Ryu S, Deshmukh S, Timmerman RD, Movsas B, Gerszten PC, Yin FF, et al. Radiosurgery Compared To External Beam Radiotherapy for Localized Spine Metastasis: Phase III Results of NRG Oncology/RTOG 0631. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics. 2019;105(1):S2-S3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Ong WL, Foroudi F, Milne RL, Millar JL. Variation in the Use of Single- Versus Multifraction Palliative Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases in Australia. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2020 Jan 1;106(1):61-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.08.061. Epub 2019 Sep 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31505246 (View on PubMed)

Roos DE, Turner SL, O'Brien PC, Smith JG, Spry NA, Burmeister BH, Hoskin PJ, Ball DL; Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, TROG 96.05. Randomized trial of 8 Gy in 1 versus 20 Gy in 5 fractions of radiotherapy for neuropathic pain due to bone metastases (Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, TROG 96.05). Radiother Oncol. 2005 Apr;75(1):54-63. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2004.09.017. Epub 2004 Oct 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15878101 (View on PubMed)

Maranzano E, Bellavita R, Rossi R, De Angelis V, Frattegiani A, Bagnoli R, Mignogna M, Beneventi S, Lupattelli M, Ponticelli P, Biti GP, Latini P. Short-course versus split-course radiotherapy in metastatic spinal cord compression: results of a phase III, randomized, multicenter trial. J Clin Oncol. 2005 May 20;23(15):3358-65. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2005.08.193. Epub 2005 Feb 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15738534 (View on PubMed)

Maranzano E, Trippa F, Casale M, Costantini S, Lupattelli M, Bellavita R, Marafioti L, Pergolizzi S, Santacaterina A, Mignogna M, Silvano G, Fusco V. 8Gy single-dose radiotherapy is effective in metastatic spinal cord compression: results of a phase III randomized multicentre Italian trial. Radiother Oncol. 2009 Nov;93(2):174-9. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2009.05.012. Epub 2009 Jun 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19520448 (View on PubMed)

Lee KA, Dunne M, Small C, Kelly PJ, McArdle O, O'Sullivan J, Hacking D, Pomeroy M, Armstrong J, Moriarty M, Clayton-Lea A, Parker I, Collins CD, Thirion P. (ICORG 05-03): prospective randomized non-inferiority phase III trial comparing two radiation schedules in malignant spinal cord compression (not proceeding with surgical decompression); the quality of life analysis. Acta Oncol. 2018 Jul;57(7):965-972. doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2018.1433320. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29419331 (View on PubMed)

Job M, Holt T, Bernard A. Reducing radiotherapy waiting times for palliative patients: The role of the Advanced Practice Radiation Therapist. J Med Radiat Sci. 2017 Dec;64(4):274-280. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.243. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28851033 (View on PubMed)

Wong S, Roderick S, Atyeo JW, Grimberg K, Porter B, Booth J, et al. Improving the Palliative Patient Journey in Radiation Oncology. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics. 2019;105(1):S49.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Sandler KA, Mitchell SA, Basch E, Raldow AC, Steinberg ML, Sharif J, Cook RR, Kupelian PA, McCloskey SA. Content Validity of Anatomic Site-Specific Patient-Reported Outcomes Version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) Item Sets for Assessment of Acute Symptomatic Toxicities in Radiation Oncology. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2018 Sep 1;102(1):44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.04.048. Epub 2018 Jun 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30102201 (View on PubMed)

Brunelli C, Zecca E, Martini C, Campa T, Fagnoni E, Bagnasco M, Lanata L, Caraceni A. Comparison of numerical and verbal rating scales to measure pain exacerbations in patients with chronic cancer pain. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2010 Apr 22;8:42. doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-8-42.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20412579 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

ASPIRE-single

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.