An interventional study of Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#) and Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #) in Bone Metastases of a Malignant Tumor and Cancer Pain, sponsored by Oman Ministry of Health. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Oman. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-19.
Sponsored by Oman Ministry of Health · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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.
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.
310 studies on the registry are indexed under Cancer Pain; 73 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 70 is above the median of 62 across 235 interventional studies indexed under Cancer Pain.
Browse Cancer Pain studies →Oman Ministry of Health is the lead sponsor of 18 studies on the registry; 12 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Life expectancy
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants 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.
Radiation: Single-Fraction Radiotherapy (8Gy x 1#)
Participants will receive VMAT-basd radiotherapy to painful none metastasis, a total dose of 20Gy delivered in Five fractions using daily CBCT based imaging guidance.
Radiation: Multifraction Radiotherapy (20 Gy in 5 #)
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
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
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).
Time frame: From study initiation through completion of the recruitment period.
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).
Time frame: From randomisation through completion of assigned radiotherapy.
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).
Time frame: From randomisation through 3 months after radiotherapy.
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).
Time frame: From study initiation through 3 months after radiotherapy.
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).
Time frame: From randomisation through 3 months after radiotherapy.
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.
Time frame: 4 weeks after radiotherapy
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.
Time frame: From completion of radiotherapy through 3 months after radiotherapy
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.
Time frame: From completion of radiotherapy through 10 days after radiotherapy.
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.
Time frame: 2 weeks and 3 months after radiotherapy
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.
Time frame: At 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 3 months after radiotherapy
Number of participants receiving radiotherapy to new painful metastatic sites
The number of participants who receive radiotherapy to new painful metastatic sites during the 3-month follow-up period will be recorded descriptively. This outcome reflects the occurrence of new painful metastatic disease during follow-up and is not intended to assess the efficacy of SFRT versus MFRT.
Time frame: From completion of radiotherapy through 3 months after radiotherapy
Plan to share: 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.
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Oman Ministry of Health