Skip to content

Hypofractionated Versus Single Fraction Stereotactic Adjuvant Radiotherapy to the Resection Cavity of Brain Metastases

Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy Versus Single Fraction Stereotactic Radiosurgery to the Resection Cavity of Brain Metastases After Surgical Resection - A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled, Monocentric Phase III Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05160818
Acronym
SATURNUS
Enrollment
126
Registered
2021-12-16
Start date
2021-02-01
Completion date
2025-08-01
Last updated
2021-12-16

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

Conditions

Brain Metastases, Resection Cavity

Keywords

Brain Metastases, Resection Cavity, Radiotherapy, Stereotactic Irradiation, Gamma Knife

Brief summary

This prospective, randomized, controlled, monocentric clinical phase III study focuses on stereotactic irradiation of resection cavities of brain metastases after surgical resection and seeks to demonstrate the superiority of fractionated irradiation schemes in terms of local control.

Detailed description

There is a growing scientific focus on single fraction stereotactic (SRS) and hypofractionated stereotactic irradiation (HFSRT) after surgical resection of brain metastasis and its use is more frequently recommended in international guidelines. Despite intensive research, the optimal fractionation scheme and dose prescription for adjuvant irradiation of the resection cavity remains unclear. Based on our own institutional data \[Cit.1\] and a recently published metaanalysis \[Cit.2\], we hypothesize that local control (LC) after HFSRT is superior compared to SRS in terms of LC. To evaluate the hypothesis in a prospective, randomized, controlled setting we designed the SATURNUS study. A total of 126 patients will be randomized 1:1 to either HFSRT (dose 6-7 x 5 Gy) or SRS (dose 1 x 12-20 Gy). If further unresected brain metastases are present, they will be treated with SRS (1 x 14 - 22 Gy). Irradiation is carried out with a Gamma Knife or a Linear Accelerator. In line with current clinical practice, the choice of positioning method for SRS with the Gamma Knife (mask or stereotactic frame) is left to the patient. In the case of SRS with the Linear Accelerator or HFSRT, fixation is done with a mask as technically not otherwise feasible. Follow-up-MRI will be at least carried out 6 weeks and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. Primary endpoint of the study is local control (LC) at the irradiated resection cavity after 12 months. Locoregional control (LRC) and overall survival (OS) as well as salvage-treatments, irradiation-associated toxicities (especially rate of radionecrosis) and quality-of-life parameters are investigated as secondary endpoints. To the best of our knowledge, the SATURNUS study is the only randomized phase III study comparing different techniques of postoperative stereotactic radiotherapy after resection of brain metastases adequately powered to detect a superiority of HSFRT regarding LC.

Interventions

RADIATIONHypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HFSRT) versus single fraction stereotactic radiotherapy radiosurgery (SRS)

intervention description see above

Sponsors

Technical University of Munich
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Masking description

The affiliation to the treatment arm will not be blinded to anyone except the study neuroradiologist.

Intervention model description

1:1 Parallel Assignment

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Histologically confirmed solid tumor disease * One to three resected brain metastases * Consent to perform adjuvant irradiation by an interdisciplinary tumor board * Completed wound healing * Resection within the last six weeks at the time of study inclusion * Diameter of the resection cavity ≤ 4 cm (on Planning MRI) * Age \> 18 years * KPS \> 60% * Adequate contraceptive measures for fertile women / men * Written informed consent (must be available before enrolment in the trial)

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindication for repetitive contrast enhanced MRI * Leptomeningeal disease * Small cell histology, hematological malignancies and / or germ cell malignancies * Previous irradiation of the brain * Pregnant and lactating women * Inability to understand the character and consequences of the study * Withdrawal of consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Local control12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyLocal control at the resected site(s)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
QoLup to 12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyQuality of life according to EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-B20
Irradiation-related toxicityup to 12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyaccording to CTCAE v4.03, especially rate of radionecrosis
LC12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyLocal control at all treated site(s)
LRC12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyLocoregional control=CNS progression free survival
Pseudoprogressionup to 12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyRate of pseudoprogression
Salvage-free survival12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyOverall survival
Intracranial salvage therapy12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyNumber and kind of intracranial salvage treatments
Time to loss of independenceup to 12 months after adjuvant radiotherapydefined as decrease in Barthel index by \> 20 points
OS12 months after adjuvant radiotherapyOverall survival

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Primary ContactMaria Waltenberger
maria.waltenberger@mri.tum.de+49-89-4140-8281
Backup ContactStephanie E Combs, Prof. Dr.
direktion.radonk@mri.tum.de+49-89-4140-4501

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 8, 2026