Train-METASTRA is a retrospective study that will be performed in order to collect a large and harmonised amount of clinical and imaging data concerning vertebral metastases, focusing in particular on the risk of fractures. This type of dataset will be created from the medical records of 2000 patients admitted in the last ten years in the four European clinical centers participating in METASTRA project: "COMPUTER-AIDED EFFECTIVE FRACTURE RISK STRATIFICATION OF PATIENTS WITH VERTEBRAL METASTASES FOR PERSONALISED TREATMENT THROUGH ROBUST COMPUTATIONAL MODELS VALIDATED IN CLINICAL SETTINGS", funded by the European Union under the call "HORIZON-HLTH-2022-TOOL-12-two-stage/Computational models for new patient stratification strategies". The project is coordinated by the University of Bologna (UNIBO) (PI prof. Luca Cristofolini) and involves 15 European partners, including Sarl Voisin Consulting Life Sciences VCLS, University of Szeged (Hungary), University of Sheffield (UK) and FrontEndART (Hungary).
This type of dataset is not currently available in the literature and it will be pivotal to the development of the METASTRA computational models for the stratification of the risk of fracture of patients affected by spinal metastases.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Alive or dead
* Age 18 -99 years old
* Both male and female
* Diagnosis of cancer metastases at the spine
* Any SINS score
* Admitted for hospitalisation or outpatient visit from Jan 2012 to Dec 2022 N ≥ 1 non-stabilised metastatic vertebra
* Presence of baseline CT scan, and/or MRI and x-rays, showing the presence of metastatic lesions that are not surgically treated
* At least one follow-up visit at ≥ 3 months after the first evaluation or treatment
Exclusion Criteria:
* Minor patients
* Patients with diagnosis of primary spine tumour, degenerative spinal diseases, deformity or trauma
* Patients without non-stabilised vertebral metastases
* Patients without baseline CT scan or MRI
* Patients without follow up visits
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
risk factors for vertebral fracture
Timeframe: at the baseline
2
risk factors for vertebral fracture
Timeframe: through study completion, an average of 1 year