Skip to content

Hippocampal Avoidance in Craniospinal Irradiation for the Treatment of Leptomeningeal Metastases From Breast Cancer or Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

A Multi-Center Phase 2 Study of Hippocampal Avoidance in Craniospinal Irradiation for Leptomeningeal Metastases From Solid Tumors

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06518057
Enrollment
22
Registered
2024-07-24
Start date
2025-03-03
Completion date
2027-12-30
Last updated
2025-12-11

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

Conditions

Anatomic Stage IV Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Metastatic Breast Carcinoma, Metastatic Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Leptomeninges, Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8

Brief summary

This phase II clinical trial studies how well craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with hippocampal avoidance, using proton therapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), works in treating patients with breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread from the original (primary) tumor to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and meninges (thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord) (leptomeningeal metastases). Radiation therapy is an effective treatment in relieving localized symptoms caused by leptomeningeal metastases. However, the type of radiation therapy typically used does not prevent the spread of leptomeningeal disease. CSI (radiation therapy directed at the brain and spinal cord to kill tumor cells) may be able to target all of the areas of possible leptomeningeal tumor spread. CSI may however result in significant neurological side effects due to radiation damage to a part of the brain called the hippocampus. Hippocampal avoidance (HA) reduces the amount of radiation to the hippocampus. Proton or VMAT CSI with HA may be an effective treatment while reducing neurological side effects for patients with leptomeningeal metastases from breast cancer and NSCLC.

Detailed description

OUTLINE: Patients undergo proton or photon VMAT CSI with HA over approximately 45 minutes once daily (QD) for 10 days (Monday-Friday) in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients may also undergo computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT during screening. Additionally, patients will undergo additional CT for radiation planning during screening and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) throughout the trial. Patients may also undergo lumbar puncture (LP) or alternative methods for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) collection at the discretion of the treating physician and principal investigator throughout the study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, and then at the time of CNS disease progression, up to 1 year.

Interventions

PROCEDUREComputed Tomography

Undergo PET/CT and/or CT

OTHERElectronic Health Record Review

Ancillary studies

PROCEDURELumbar Puncture

Undergo lumbar puncture

PROCEDUREMagnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo MRI

PROCEDUREPositron Emission Tomography

Undergo PET/CT

Undergo proton CSI

OTHERSurvey Administration

Ancillary studies

PROCEDUREBiospecimen Collection

Undergo CSF sample collection

Undergo photon VMAT CSI

PROCEDUREHippocampal-Avoidance Craniospinal Irradiation

Undergo HA

Sponsors

University of Washington
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

* Patients with breast cancer or NSCLC malignancies with leptomeningeal metastases established radiographically and/or through CSF cytology * Patients who are candidates for radiation therapy for the treatment of leptomeningeal metastases * Patients ≥ 18 years old * Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 60 or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≥ 2 * The patient is able to provide informed consent * Hemoglobin \> 8 g/dL * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm * Participants born female at birth must either be of non-reproductive potential (i.e. post-menopausal by history \[≥ 60 years old, or with no menses for \> 1 year without an alternative medical cause\], OR history of hysterectomy, OR history of bilateral tubal ligation, OR history of bilateral oophorectomy) or must have a negative serum /urine pregnancy test within 3 weeks prior to starting radiation therapy (RT) * Patients with reproductive potential must agree to practice two highly effective contraceptive methods

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with multiple, serious major neurologic deficits per physician/investigator assessment including encephalopathy * Patients with extensive systemic disease and without reasonable systemic treatment options * Patients who are unable to undergo MRI brain and spine with gadolinium contrast * Previous radiotherapy to the intended treatment site that precludes developing a treatment plan that respects normal tissue tolerances * Gross ventricular disease * Brain metastases within 5 mm of the hippocampal contours not previously treated * Pregnant or lactating women

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Central nervous system (CNS)-progression free survival (PFS)Up to 12 monthsPFS is defined as time from craniospinal irradiation (CSI) to CNS disease progression or death. CNS-PFS will be summarized using Kaplan-Meier methodology. Median, 95% confidence interval (CI) and Kaplan-Meier plot will be provided. One-sample log-rank test will be used to test if the median CNS PFS of hippocampal avoidance in CSI for leptomeningeal metastases from breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is significantly larger than the expected median CNS PFS with involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT), i.e., 2.5 months. P-value will be provided.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of adverse events associated with hippocampal avoidance craniospinal irradiation (HA-CSI)Up to 12 monthsThe analyses of the adverse events associated with HA-CSI will be descriptive in nature. Summary tables and listings will be provided for all reported adverse events (AEs).
Neurocognitive function assessmentUp to 12 monthsLinear mixed models will be used to examine changes in neurocognitive domain (attention, executive functions, memory) performances from pre-RT baseline to 3, 6, and 12 months. Magnitude of change will be examined at each timepoint using standardized effect sizes (e.g., Cohen's d). For each timepoint, the study investigators will examine the proportion of individuals who demonstrate a reliable change in at least 2 (out of 10) test performances as compared to pre-RT baseline performances.
Overall survival (OS)Up to 12 monthsComparison of OS between the study group and the historical cohort will be analyzed using stratified log-rank test. OS will be estimated and visualized using Kaplan-Meier methods.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactLia M. Halasz
lhalasz@uw.edu206-897-2121

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026