Heat and radiation team up to fight spine cancer

NCT ID NCT02713269

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether combining two treatments—thermal ablation (using heat to destroy tumor cells) and stereotactic radiosurgery (precise, high-dose radiation)—can better control cancer that has spread to the spine and is pressing on the spinal cord. About 60 adults with various solid tumors are participating. The goal is to see if this combination improves local tumor control and reduces the risk of spinal cord compression.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: thermal ablation and stereotactic radiosurgery
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a more effective way to control spine tumors and prevent spinal cord compression, improving quality of life for patients with advanced cancer.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The combination also carries risks like nerve damage or pain from the procedures.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer cancer of unknown primary site digestive system cancer digestive system neoplasm head and neck carcinoma invasive breast carcinoma melanoma metastatic malignant neoplasm in the spinal cord metastatic melanoma metastatic prostate carcinoma neoplasm Neoplasms, Unknown Primary non-small cell lung carcinoma renal carcinoma renal cell carcinoma sarcoma Spinal Cord Compression thyroid gland carcinoma Thyroid Neoplasms

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MALIGNANT DIGESTIVE SYSTEM NEOPLASM METASTATIC HEAD AND NECK CARCINOMA METASTATIC KIDNEY CARCINOMA METASTATIC MALIGNANT NEOPLASM IN THE SPINE METASTATIC MALIGNANT NEOPLASM OF UNKNOWN PRIMARY METASTATIC MELANOMA PROSTATE CARCINOMA METASTATIC IN THE BONE SARCOMA SOLID NEOPLASM SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION STAGE IV BREAST CANCER AJCC V6 AND V7 STAGE IV LUNG NON-SMALL CELL CANCER AJCC V7 THYROID GLAND CARCINOMA

Heat and radiation team up to fight spine cancer

Summary

What this could mean

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Conditions

As listed by the trial registrant

Contacts and locations

Locations

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