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NTS-WBRT in Brain Metastases

Phase II Trial of Normal Tissue Sparing Whole Brain Radiation Therapy (NTS-WBRT) in Patients With Brain Metastases

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05013892
Enrollment
41
Registered
2021-08-19
Start date
2022-02-08
Completion date
2027-12-31
Last updated
2026-04-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Brain Metastases

Keywords

Brain Metastases

Brief summary

This research is being done to assess the quality of life and symptom burden in participants who receive (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy (NTS-WBRT). This research study involves: * NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy) * Memantine standard of care drug

Detailed description

This is a Phase 2 trial testing the safety and effectiveness of NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy) in treating brain metastases. NTS-WBRT is a targeted radiation therapy that further reduces radiation dose to tissue that does not need radiation therapy treatment. The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment including evaluations and follow up visits. It is expected that about 41 people will take part in this research study.

Interventions

RADIATIONNTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy)

Radiation

DRUGMemantine

Capsule, taken orally

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Any patient with a solid tumor diagnosis and any number of brain metastasis clinically indicated for cranial irradiation with whole brain radiation therapy * Age ≥ 18 * Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 70 * Prior stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) permissible per physician discretion * Prior craniotomy permissible per physician discretion. Protocol radiation therapy should be initiated ≥2 weeks after craniotomy. * Prior partial brain radiation therapy permissible if target volume \< 50% brain and per physician discretion * Expectant \> 6 months survival * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. * Fluency in English, able to complete questionnaires and neurocognitive testing * Ability to undergo MRI with gadolinium examination * Ability to return for follow-up examinations throughout the course of this study for a maximum of 2 years after radiation treatment completion * Any prior, concomitant, or post-radiotherapy systemic therapy is permitted at discretion of treating physicians * Negative pregnancy test for premenopausal women

Exclusion criteria

* Leptomeningeal disease (by any one or more of clinical assessment, radiographic assessment, or cerebrospinal fluid study) * Prior whole brain radiation therapy * Pre-existing or current use of memantine or other NMDA antagonists * Known allergy to contrast used in imaging studies and/or inability to have MRI imaging * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness that could significantly affect baseline cognitive function as determined by the enrolling clinician, such as symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, prior CVA, significant uncontrolled epilepsy or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Pregnant or unwilling to use appropriate contraception to prevent pregnancy during the time of radiation therapy * Concurrent participation in an investigational systemic therapy protocol.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Patient Reported Quality of Life for NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy)4 MonthsAssessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br) questionnaire. Score range is 0-200 and the higher the score, the better the outcome.
Change in Patient Reported Symptom Burden for NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy)4 MonthsAssessed by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br) questionnaire. Score range is 0-200 and the higher the score, the better the outcome.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tumor local control Rates between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsEstimated by the cumulative incidence function treating death as a competing risk, compared using Gray's test
Intracranial- Progression Free Survival (PFS) between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsEstimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, compared using the logrank test
Overall survival (OS) between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTThe date of randomization to the date of death, or otherwise censored at the last follow-up date for patients still alive up to 24 monthsEstimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, compared using the logrank test
Change in Neurocognitive function between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsAssessed longitudinally by the HADS-D and HADS-A questionnaires
Change in Mood between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsMixed effects models with treatment arm as a fixed effect will be used to compare changes in depression (HADS-D) and anxiety (HADS-A) scores over time
Change in Fatigue between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsMixed effects models with treatment arm as a fixed effect will be used to compare changes in the fatigue score over time
Change in Neuroendocrine function between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsEstimated by the cumulative incidence function treating intracranial progression and death as competing risks; compared using Gray's test.
Change in Hearing between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRT Assessed by Pure Tone Averagebaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsChanges in pure tone average (PTA) from baseline to each subsequent assessment will be compared between treatment arms using Wilcox rank-sum test. Pure tone thresholds are found by presenting tones using standard headphones and methods in a sound treated booth. Pure tone thresholds will be tested by both bone (500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz) and air conduction (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000, 10000, 12000, and 14000 Hz). Masking will be applied sufficient to determine the ear responsible for each value. The results of this testing will be used to determine the sensorineural hearing level. If significant conductive loss is found, bone conduction threshold will be used to report sensory ototoxicity. Threshold effects across frequency will be combined into a Pure Tone Average (PTA), defined as the average of audiometric thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000. A significant decrease in Pure Tone Average is defined as an increase \> 10 dB in relation to baseline threshold.
Change in Hearing between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRT Assessed by Word Recognition Scorebaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsChanges in word recognition score (WRS) from baseline to each subsequent assessment will be compared between treatment arms using Wilcox rank-sum test. Word recognition is defined as the percent correct on a standard, 50-item word list of English monosyllables: CID W-22, NU#6 or CNC. A significant decrease in word recognition is defined as a score exceeding the 95% critical difference from the table of Thornton and Raffin.
Change in Hearing between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRT Assessed by Otoacoustic Emissionsbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsThe rates of absent otoacoustic emissions (OAE) will be compared between treatment arms using Fisher's exact test. The OAE (Otoacoustic Emissions) test checks part of the inner ear's response to sound. Otoacoustic emissions are sounds given off by one small part of the cochlea when it is stimulated by soft clicking sounds. When the sound stimulates the cochlea, the outer hair cells vibrate. The vibration produces a nearly inaudible sound that echoes back into the middle ear. The results are either present or absent. Present OAEs are consistent with normal to near normal hearing. Absent OAEs may be a sign of a problem related to study treatment.
Alopecia Rates between NTS-WBRT+SIB and NTS-WBRTbaseline, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 monthsAssessed by patient report and visual inspection with documented photography; compared by Fisher's exact test
Number of Participants With Treatment-Related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE Version 5.0Up to 24 monthsThe number and proportion of adverse events, graded as defined by CTCAE version 5.0 will be tabulated by type and grade, compared using Fisher's exact test.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTHelen A Shih, MD, MS, MPH
hshih@mgh.harvard.edu(617) 724-9627
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHelen A Shih, MD, MS, MPH

Massachusetts General Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 17, 2026