CAFE Study – Cancer Patient Fracture Evaluation

Inclusion Criteria:

One to 3 painful (pain on palpation/percussion over fractured vertebral body) VCF(s), T5-L5, with either bone marrow edema imaged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a fracture imaged by plain radiographs using the method of Genant

Pain NRS score ≥4 on a scale of 0 to 10

When the patient is newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the pain assessment must not be done until after completion of at least one pulse of steroid therapy or one week after the initiation of active multiple myeloma therapy.
Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire score ≥ 10 on a scale of 0 to 24
Patients must be at least 21 years old.
No change in chemotherapy regimen (change in dose(s) permitted) for 1 month prior to enrollment
No change in chemotherapy regimen (change in dose(s) permitted) planned for at least 1 month following enrollment
No major surgery to the spine planned for at least 1 month following enrollment
Life expectancy of ≥ 3 months
Patient has sufficient mental capacity to comply with the protocol requirements
Patient has stated availability for all study visits
Patient is able to understand the risks and benefits of participating in the study and is willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with primary tumors of the bone (e.g., osteosarcoma) or solitary plasmacytoma at site of the index VCF. Patients with these tumors in anatomic sites other than the index VCF are eligible.
Concurrent Phase I investigational anti-cancer treatment
Significant clinical morbidities (aside from the index fracture(s) and cancer) that may potentially interfere with the collection of data concerning pain and function
VCF morphology deemed unsuitable for balloon kyphoplasty
Additional non-kyphoplasty surgical treatment is required for the index fracture
Patients requiring the use of high-dose steroid (≥ 100 mg prednisone or 20 mg dexamethasone per day), intravenous (IV) pain medication, or nerve block to control chronic back pain unrelated to index VCF(s). Patients who receive high-dose steroids for treatment of their cancer (for at least 30 days) are eligible.
Patients with a platelet count of < 20,000 measured at the time of hospital admission for the procedure
Spinal cord compression or canal compromise requiring decompression
Patients with osteoblastic tumors at the site of index VCF. Patients with osteoblastic tumors outside of vertebral levels intended for kyphoplasty may be enrolled.
Medical/surgical conditions contrary to the balloon kyphoplasty procedure (e.g., in the presence of active or incompletely treated local infection)
Known allergy to bone cement or contrast medium used in the treatment of study subjects
MRI contraindication (e.g., cerebral aneurysm clips, pacemaker, implanted biostimulators, cochlear implants, penile prosthesis)
Positive baseline pregnancy test (for women of child-bearing potential)
Patients who may require allogeneic bone marrow transplantation during the course of the study.

Other Reasons for Lack of Enrollment:

A. Patient is afraid to have surgery

B. Patient is afraid to have anesthesia

C. Patient/family is not willing to participate in research

D. Patient is not willing to be randomized