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Bone Metastases of a Malignant TumorSMARTNCT07772206

Single Fraction and Multifraction Arc-Based Radiotherapy for Painful Bone Metastases

A study testing Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#) and Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #) in people with Bone Metastases of a Malignant Tumor and Cancer Pain, run by Oman Ministry of Health at 1 site in Oman.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This prospective randomised pilot feasibility study will compare single-fraction radiotherapy (8 Gy × 1) with multifraction radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 fractions) for the palliation of painful bone metastases. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#) and Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #)
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
70 participants
Where
1 siteOman
Study dates
1 Sep 2026to 30 Dec 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥18 years
  • Histologically proven malignancy
  • Radiological evidence of bone or spine metastases
  • Pain score ≥4 on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11)
  • ECOG Performance Status 0-3
  • Life expectancy ≥3 months.
  • Ability to provide written informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Spinal cord compression requiring emergency therapy
  • Previous radiotherapy to same site
  • Unstable pathological fracture requiring surgery
  • Pregnancy
  • Inability to provide consent
  • Oligometastatic bone metastases requiring Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Balaji Subramanian Sitaraman, MBBS, DNB contact

+96871926769

balaji.radonc@gmail.com

Oman1 site
  • Royal Hospital

    Muscat, Muḩāfaz̧at Masqaţ, 100

Other trials in Oman

About this study

Official title: The SMART Trial: A Randomised Feasibility Study Comparing Single Fraction and Multifraction Arc-Based Radiotherapy for Painful Bone Metastases

This prospective randomised pilot feasibility study will compare single-fraction radiotherapy (8 Gy × 1) with multifraction radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 fractions) for the palliation of painful bone metastases. The study will evaluate pain response at 4 weeks following radiotherapy, together with feasibility, treatment compliance, toxicity, pain flare, retreatment, patient convenience and resource utilisation. The study will generate preliminary data to inform the design of a future definitive randomised trial.

Read the detailed description

Single-fraction radiotherapy (SFRT) is an established standard treatment for palliation of painful bone metastases. However, multifraction radiotherapy (MFRT) continues to be widely used in clinical practice because of concerns regarding durability of pain control and retreatment. With the increasing use of modern arc-based radiotherapy techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), there is a need to evaluate whether single-fraction radiotherapy can provide effective pain palliation while reducing treatment burden and improving resource utilisation.

The SMART trial is a prospective, single-centre, randomised, open-label, parallel-group pilot feasibility study comparing VMAT-based SFRT (8 Gy in 1 fraction) with VMAT-based MFRT (20 Gy in 5 fractions) in patients with painful bone metastases, including spinal metastases.

Approximately 70 participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive either SFRT or MFRT. Both treatment schedules will be delivered using VMAT with daily image-guided radiotherapy using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based image guidance.

Stratified block randomisation will be used according to the site of metastasis (spine versus non-spine) to maintain balance between the two treatment groups. Within each stratum, computer-generated variable block randomisation using block sizes of 4 and 6 will be used. Allocation will be concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes.

Pain will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11) and Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale at baseline and during follow-up. Participants will be assessed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after radiotherapy.

The primary aim of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial at the participating tertiary oncology centre. Feasibility will include recruitment, treatment completion, follow-up completion and completeness of study data.

The primary efficacy outcome will be overall pain response at 4 weeks following radiotherapy. Secondary outcomes will include pain response at other follow-up time points, retreatment rates, pain flare, treatment-related toxicity, patient convenience and resource utilisation.

The study is not powered to provide a definitive non-inferiority conclusion. A non-inferiority margin of 15% has been prespecified to guide estimation of the treatment effect and inform the design and sample size of a future definitive randomised trial. The primary efficacy analysis will compare overall pain response between the two treatment groups using the intention-to-treat population.

The study will generate preliminary feasibility and clinical outcome data to inform the design of a future definitive randomised controlled trial evaluating single-fraction versus multifraction radiotherapy for painful bone metastases.

Being tested
Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#), Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #)
Keywords
Bone Metastases, Feasibility, Single fraction radiotherapy, Multifraction radiotherapy, Pain response,
Medical subject headings
Cancer Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#)Radiation

    VMAT-based external beam radiotherapy planned to deliver 8 Gy in a single fraction with CBCT-based image guidance for the palliation of painful bone metastasis

  • Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #)Radiation

    VMAT-based external beam radiotherapy planned to deliver 20 Gy in Five fractions of 4 Gy each with daily CBCT-based image guidance for the palliation of painful bone metastasis

Study groups in NCT07772206
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (SFRT)ExperimentalParticipants will receive VMAT-basd radiotherapy to painful none metastasis, a total dose of 8 Gy delivered in a single fraction using CBCT based imaging guidance.
Receives: Radiation: Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#)
Multifraction Radiotherapy (MFRT)Active comparatorParticipants will receive VMAT-basd radiotherapy to painful none metastasis, a total dose of 20Gy delivered in Five fractions using daily CBCT based imaging guidance.
Receives: Radiation: Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Percentage of target sample recruited

    The percentage of the planned target sample successfully recruited during the recruitment period. Recruitment feasibility will be interpreted using predefined traffic-light criteria: Green ≥80% (feasibility achieved), Amber 70-79% (borderline feasibility requiring review), and Red <70% (feasibility not achieved and requiring review).

    Measured: From study initiation through completion of the recruitment period.

  2. Percentage of participants completing assigned radiotherapy

    The percentage of randomised participants who complete the assigned radiotherapy treatment according to the study protocol. Treatment completion feasibility will be interpreted using predefined traffic-light criteria: Green ≥90% (feasibility achieved), Amber 80-89% (borderline feasibility requiring review), and Red <80% (feasibility not achieved and requiring review).

    Measured: From randomisation through completion of assigned radiotherapy.

  3. Percentage of participants completing 3-month follow-up

    The percentage of randomised participants who complete the required study follow-up through 3 months after radiotherapy. Follow-up feasibility will be interpreted using predefined traffic-light criteria: Green ≥80% (feasibility achieved), Amber 70-79% (borderline feasibility requiring review), and Red <70% (feasibility not achieved and requiring review).

    Measured: From randomisation through 3 months after radiotherapy.

  4. Percentage of participants with complete required study data

    The percentage of participants with complete required study data according to the study data collection requirements. Data completeness will be interpreted using predefined traffic-light criteria: Green ≥90% (feasibility achieved), Amber 80-89% (borderline feasibility requiring review), and Red <80% (feasibility not achieved and requiring review).

    Measured: From study initiation through 3 months after radiotherapy.

  5. Percentage of participants with major protocol deviations

    The percentage of participants with major protocol deviations during the study. A major protocol deviation is a significant departure from the study protocol that may affect participant safety, treatment allocation, assessment of the primary outcome, or validity of the study results. Protocol adherence will be interpreted using predefined traffic-light criteria: Green <10% major protocol deviations (feasibility achieved), Amber 10-20% (borderline feasibility requiring review), and Red >20% (feasibility not achieved and requiring review).

    Measured: From randomisation through 3 months after radiotherapy.

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Percentage of participants achieving overall pain response at 4 weeks.

    Overall pain response will be assessed using the NRS-11 and analgesic use. Pain response is defined as a reduction of at least 2 points in pain from baseline with no escalation in analgesic use. The percentage of participants achieving pain response will be compared between the SFRT and MFRT groups.

    Measured: 4 weeks after radiotherapy

  2. Percentage of participants requiring retreatment

    The percentage of participants requiring repeat radiotherapy to the treated sitefor persisten or recurrence of pain will be recorded and compared between the SFRT and MFRT groups.

    Measured: From completion of radiotherapy through 3 months after radiotherapy

  3. Percentage of participants experiencing pain flare

    Pain flare following radiotherapy will be recorded and compared between the SFRT and MFRT groups. Pain flare is defined as increase in NRS pain score by ≥2 points without reduction in analgesic use, or Increase in analgesic requirement by ≥25% without improvement in pain score, followed by return to the baseline pain level or analgesic requirement within 10 days after radiotherapy.

    Measured: From completion of radiotherapy through 10 days after radiotherapy.

  4. Percentage of participants achieving overall pain response at 2 weeks and 3 months

    Overall pain response will be assessed using the NRS-11 and analgesic use. Pain response is defined as a reduction of at least 2 points in pain from baseline with no escalation in analgesic use. The percentage of participants achieving pain response will be recorded at 2 weeks and 3 months after radiotherapy and compared between the SFRT and MFRT groups.

    Measured: 2 weeks and 3 months after radiotherapy

  5. Change in analgesic requirement from baseline

    Change in analgesic requirement from baseline will be assessed using the patient's analgesic consumption and expressed as oral morphine equivalent dose (OMED). The change in analgesic requirement will be recorded and compared between the SFRT and MFRT groups.

    Measured: At 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months after radiotherapy

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 Aug 2026
  2. Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two parallel treatment arms: single-fraction radiotherapy (8 Gy in 1 fraction) or multifraction radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 fractions). Stratified block randomisation will be used according to spine versus non-spine metastases.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
70 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07772206
Sponsor's protocol ID
MoH/CSR/26/32133
Acronym
SMART
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
8 Aug 2026
Last updated
19 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data will not be routinely shared with other researchers. The study is a single-center feasibility study, and the collected data will be used for the approved study objectives and institutional research purposes. Any data sharing, if required in the future, will be considered in accordance with institutional policies, ethical approval, participant confidentiality, and applicable regulations.

Publications

  • McDonald R, Chow E, Lam H, Rowbottom L, Soliman H. International patterns of practice in radiotherapy for bone metastases: A review of the literature. J Bone Oncol. 2014 Nov 7;3(3-4):96-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jbo.2014.10.003. eCollection 2014 Nov.

    PubMed 26909305
  • Hird A, Chow E, Zhang L, Wong R, Wu J, Sinclair E, Danjoux C, Tsao M, Barnes E, Loblaw A. Determining the incidence of pain flare following palliative radiotherapy for symptomatic bone metastases: results from three canadian cancer centers. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2009 Sep 1;75(1):193-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.10.044. Epub 2009 Jan 23.

    PubMed 19167840
  • Westhoff PG, de Graeff A, Monninkhof EM, Pomp J, van Vulpen M, Leer JW, Marijnen CA, van der Linden YM; Dutch Bone Metastasis Study Group. Quality of Life in Relation to Pain Response to Radiation Therapy for Painful Bone Metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2015 Nov 1;93(3):694-701. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.06.024. Epub 2015 Jun 20.

    PubMed 26281825
  • BalajiSubramanian S, Sathiya K, Balaji K, Thirunavukarasu M, Phanikiran S, Rela M. Re-irradiation after stereotactic body radiotherapy for spine metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report. Rep Pract Oncol Radiother. 2021 Dec 30;26(6):1060-1065. doi: 10.5603/RPOR.a2021.0098. eCollection 2021.

    PubMed 34992882
  • Sahgal A, Myrehaug SD, Siva S, Masucci GL, Maralani PJ, Brundage M, Butler J, Chow E, Fehlings MG, Foote M, Gabos Z, Greenspoon J, Kerba M, Lee Y, Liu M, Liu SK, Thibault I, Wong RK, Hum M, Ding K, Parulekar WR; trial investigators. Stereotactic body radiotherapy versus conventional external beam radiotherapy in patients with painful spinal metastases: an open-label, multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2/3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2021 Jul;22(7):1023-1033. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00196-0. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

    PubMed 34126044
  • Chow E, Zeng L, Salvo N, Dennis K, Tsao M, Lutz S. Update on the systematic review of palliative radiotherapy trials for bone metastases. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2012 Mar;24(2):112-24. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2011.11.004. Epub 2011 Nov 29.

    PubMed 22130630
  • Steenland E, Leer JW, van Houwelingen H, Post WJ, van den Hout WB, Kievit J, de Haes H, Martijn H, Oei B, Vonk E, van der Steen-Banasik E, Wiggenraad RG, Hoogenhout J, Warlam-Rodenhuis C, van Tienhoven G, Wanders R, Pomp J, van Reijn M, van Mierlo I, Rutten E. The effect of a single fraction compared to multiple fractions on painful bone metastases: a global analysis of the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study. Radiother Oncol. 1999 Aug;52(2):101-9. doi: 10.1016/s0167-8140(99)00110-3.

    PubMed 10577695
  • Hartsell WF, Scott CB, Bruner DW, Scarantino CW, Ivker RA, Roach M 3rd, Suh JH, Demas WF, Movsas B, Petersen IA, Konski AA, Cleeland CS, Janjan NA, DeSilvio M. Randomized trial of short- versus long-course radiotherapy for palliation of painful bone metastases. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Jun 1;97(11):798-804. doi: 10.1093/jnci/dji139.

    PubMed 15928300

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#) and Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #) in people with Bone Metastases of a Malignant Tumor and Cancer Pain, run by Oman Ministry of Health at 1 site in Oman.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Oman. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Balaji Subramanian Sitaraman, MBBS, DNB (+96871926769, balaji.radonc@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Percentage of target sample recruited (time frame: From study initiation through completion of the recruitment period.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07772206, which also lists 8 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Aug 2026.

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