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Pre-Surgical Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases

Phase < 1
Recruiting
Led By Zachary Buchwald, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by Emory University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2 (Karnofsky >= 60%)
Patients must have adequate organ function as determined by Neurosurgery to undergo surgery
Must not have
Patients on any immunosuppressive medication other than dexamethasone
Prior whole brain radiotherapy or SRS to the same site planned for surgery
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 years
Awards & highlights
All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Approved for 60 Other Conditions
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is to see if there are side effects from giving stereotactic radiosurgery to patients with brain metastases before surgery. Radiation may stimulate an anti-tumor immune response.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults over 18 with cancer that has spread to the brain, visible on MRI. They must have a life expectancy of more than 12 weeks, be able to undergo surgery, and follow study procedures. Pregnant or nursing women, those on immunosuppressants (except dexamethasone), or with certain serious illnesses can't participate.
What is being tested?
The trial tests if stereotactic radiosurgery before surgery can prevent cancer from returning in patients with brain metastases. It's an early phase I trial focused on understanding side effects and how well this pre-surgery radiation works as a treatment.
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects may include typical reactions to radiation like headaches, nausea, fatigue, hair loss at the treatment site, and skin irritation. Surgery risks include bleeding, infection, and reactions to anesthesia.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.
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My doctor says my body is strong enough for surgery.
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I am 18 years old or older.
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I have or might have had cancer before.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am taking immunosuppressive medication, but not dexamethasone.
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I have had brain radiation or surgery at the same spot that is now planned for surgery.
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I do not have any serious illnesses or social situations that would stop me from following the study's requirements.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Incidence of adverse events grade 3 or greater
Secondary study objectives
Density of immune niche in brain metastases
Overall survival (OS)
Time to anywhere brain failure (ABF)
+1 more

Side effects data

From 2019 Phase 2 trial • 32 Patients • NCT01573702
32%
Fatigue
28%
Lymphocyte count decreased
24%
Cough
20%
Back pain
20%
Rash acneiform
16%
Anorexia
16%
Dry skin
16%
Hyperglycemia
16%
Rash maculo-papular
12%
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
12%
Non-cardiac chest pain
12%
Diarrhea
12%
Dyspepsia
12%
Headache
12%
Nausea
12%
Pain
12%
Pain in extremity
8%
Myalgia
8%
Urinary tract pain
8%
Weight loss
8%
Watering eyes
8%
Wheezing
8%
Arthralgia
8%
Edema limbs
8%
Abdominal pain
8%
Paronychia
8%
Pruritus
8%
Blurred vision
8%
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders - Other, specify
4%
Sore throat
4%
Vomiting
4%
Urinary urgency
4%
Urinary tract infection
4%
Upper respiratory infection
4%
Skin infection
4%
White blood cell decreased
4%
Insomnia
4%
Lethargy
4%
Infusion site extravasation
4%
Ear pain
4%
Oral hemorrhage
4%
Conjunctivitis
4%
Alkaline phosphatase increased
4%
Blood bilirubin increased
4%
Bone pain
4%
Bruising
4%
Depression
4%
Dry eye
4%
Dysgeusia
4%
Dysphagia
4%
Edema face
4%
Epistaxis
4%
Flashing lights
4%
Flu like symptoms
4%
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
4%
Hot flashes
4%
Hyperkalemia
4%
Hypernatremia
4%
Nail loss
4%
Nail ridging
4%
Neck pain
4%
Neutrophil count decreased
4%
Papulopustular rash
4%
Platelet count decreased
4%
Pneumonitis
4%
Fracture
4%
Fall
4%
Skin hyperpigmentation
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Followed by Erlotinib

Awards & Highlights

All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Therapies where all constituent drugs have already been approved are likely to have better-understood side effect profiles.
Approved for 60 Other Conditions
This treatment demonstrated efficacy for 60 other conditions.
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Arm B (SRS, high dose dexamethasone, surgery)Experimental Treatment2 Interventions
Patients undergo SRS to the brain metastasis for 1-3 fractions over 1-5 days. Patients also receive high dose dexamethasone PO or IV for 2-21 days until the day of surgical resection. Patients then undergo surgical resection.
Group II: Arm A (SRS, low dose dexamethasone, surgery)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Patients undergo SRS to the brain metastasis for 1-3 fractions over 1-5 days. Patients also receive low dose dexamethasone PO or IV for 2-21 days until the day of surgical resection. Patients then undergo surgical resection.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Dexamethasone
FDA approved
Resection
2020
Completed Phase 2
~1440
Stereotactic Radiosurgery
2021
Completed Phase 2
~440

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Emory UniversityLead Sponsor
1,700 Previous Clinical Trials
2,604,578 Total Patients Enrolled
National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,928 Previous Clinical Trials
41,018,009 Total Patients Enrolled
Zachary Buchwald, MD, PhDPrincipal Investigator - Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Emory University

Media Library

Resection Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04895592 — Phase < 1
Brain Metastasis Research Study Groups: Arm B (SRS, high dose dexamethasone, surgery), Arm A (SRS, low dose dexamethasone, surgery)
Brain Metastasis Clinical Trial 2023: Resection Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04895592 — Phase < 1
Resection 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04895592 — Phase < 1
~1 spots leftby Jan 2025