Using stereotactic radiosurgery to relieve chest and stomach wall pain

A Phase I Dose Escalation Trial for Treatment of Chronic Thoracoabdominal Wall Pain Through Ablation of the Dorsal Spinal Nerve Using Single-Fraction Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Phase 1 Interventional Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · NCT05985148

This study is testing if a special type of targeted radiation therapy can help people with ongoing chest and stomach wall pain caused by nerve problems when other treatments haven't worked.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment18 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations7 sites (Basking Ridge, New Jersey and 6 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05985148 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the safety and effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a treatment for chronic thoracoabdominal wall pain (TAWP) caused by specific spinal nerve issues. Researchers will evaluate different doses of SRS to determine the highest dose that results in minimal side effects. Patients with a history of TAWP that has not responded adequately to conventional pain management will be enrolled. The study aims to provide a new therapeutic option for individuals suffering from this debilitating condition.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with chronic thoracoabdominal wall pain that has not been adequately managed by conventional therapies.

Not a fit: Patients with a life expectancy of less than six months or those with bilateral thoracoabdominal wall pain may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly alleviate chronic pain for patients suffering from thoracoabdominal wall pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies utilizing stereotactic radiosurgery for pain management have shown promising results, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have a documented history of chronic (≥ 3 months) thoracoabdominal wall pain (TAWP) attributable to ≤ 3 unilateral spinal levels as confirmed by diagnostic paravertebral nerve block or TENS (if results of the paravertebral nerve block are inconclusive) performed by an attending anesthesiologist specializing in pain management prior to study enrollment.
* Patients must have TAWP that is inadequately relieved by a trial of conventional pharmacologic therapy (defined as NRS pain score ≥ 4/10 while on treatment with conventional pharmacologic therapy for analgesia) as determined by an attending physician specializing in pain management.
* KPS ≥ 60%
* Age ≥ 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a life expectancy of \< 6 months as predicted by the Adult Comorbidity Index (ACE-27, see Appendix 1)
* Patients with active autoimmune connective tissue disease
* Patients with bilateral TAWP
* Patients with preexisting pneumothorax
* Patients with preexisting excessive pleural effusion (extending \> 3 vertebral levels)
* Systemic chemotherapy delivered or planned to be delivered within +/- 5 days of SRS
* Unable to undergo a diagnostic paravertebral nerve block
* Unable to undergo at least one of either a myelogram or spine MRI
* Patients for whom external beam treatment plans to deliver the prescription SRS dose to the lesion of interest cannot be safely designed as specified by the Dose Constraint Guidelines in Appendix 2

  * Evaluation of any radiation doses previously delivered to spinal cord/cauda equina and other critical structures (bowel, esophagus, lungs, kidneys, rectum) will be taken into consideration
  * If radiation dose from SRS would exceed any normal tissue constraint as noted in Appendix 2, the patient will be ineligible
* Abnormal complete blood count. Any of the following:

  * Platelet count \< 75 K/µL
  * Hgb level \< 9 g/dl
  * WBC \< 3.5 K/µl
* Abnormal coagulation profile: INR \> 2.5 INR and/or APTT \> 80 seconds. Patients who are on anticoagulation medication that may not be safely held for the myelogram procedure (≥ 5 days for antiplatelet agents and warfarin; ≥ 24 hours for low-molecular weight heparin formulations) will be excluded.
* Allergy to local anesthestics
* Local infection at the site of injection of anesthetic
* Severe spinal deformities with anatomic distortion (severe scoliosis/kyphoscoliosis)
* Severe respiratory disease (i.e. oxygen dependent)

Where this trial is running

Basking Ridge, New Jersey and 6 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Thoracoabdominal Wall PainSecondary to Parietal Pleura or Parietal Peritoneum DiseaseStereotactic RadiosurgeryAblation of the Dorsal Spinal Nerve22-176
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.