Combining immunotherapy or targeted therapy with stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from melanoma or lung cancer
A Multicentre Randomised Open-label Phase III Study of Stereotactic Radiosurgery, in Addition to Standard Systemic Therapy for Patients With Metastatic Melanoma or Newly Diagnosed Metastatic NSCLC and Asymptomatic or Oligo-symptomatic Brain Metastases
This study is testing if combining a type of brain surgery with standard cancer treatments can help people with brain metastases from melanoma or lung cancer live longer and feel better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 180 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ETOP IBCSG Partners Foundation Research network |
| Drugs / interventions | radiation |
| Locations | 15 sites (Naples and 14 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05522660 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This phase III clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combining standard systemic treatments with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) compared to systemic treatments alone in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated brain metastases from melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study focuses on patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and seeks to determine the optimal timing for SRS in relation to systemic immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapies. By assessing central nervous system-specific progression-free survival (CNS-specific PFS), the trial aims to find a balance between improving survival rates and maintaining quality of life for these patients.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with newly diagnosed, untreated brain metastases who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms and meet specific criteria regarding the number and size of metastases.
Not a fit: Patients with significant neurological symptoms requiring high doses of corticosteroids or those with extensive brain metastases may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve survival outcomes and quality of life for patients with brain metastases from melanoma or NSCLC.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored similar combinations of therapies, but this specific approach is addressing a controversial area in treatment timing and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Most important inclusion criteria: * Newly diagnosed, previously untreated (except for surgery, see below) asymptomatic or oligo-symptomatic brain metastases, e.g., controlled symptomatic seizure disorder. Note: patients with neurological symptoms or signs that require more than a stable dose of 4 mg dexamethasone equivalent for more than one week are not considered oligo-symptomatic. * Requirements for brain metastases: * Brain metastases must be previously untreated, except for surgery. * Prior surgery (including biopsies, resection, and cyst aspiration) for brain metastases is allowed. Residual and measurable disease after surgery is not required, but surgery must have confirmed the diagnosis. An MRI performed within 72 hours post-surgery should be available. * Number and size of metastases at diagnosis of brain metastases: * Maximum 1-10 brain metastases at screening * At least one brain metastasis must be of ≥5 mm in diameter * In case of 1-4 brain metastases: * Longest diameter of largest brain metastasis must be ≤30 mm * In case of 5-10 brain metastases: * Largest metastasis must be ≤10 mL in volume and longest diameter must be ≤30 mm * Maximum cumulative brain metastases volume must be ≤30 mL * Primary disease of histologically confirmed (from primary tumour or from a metastatic lesion, including in the brain) melanoma or NSCLC * Requirements for patients with melanoma: * Prior treatment, including treatment with immune-checkpoint inhibitors is permitted, but brain metastases must be newly diagnosed and previously untreated (except for surgery). * BRAF-mutation status, locally assessed, should be known (previous adjuvant BRAF-targeted therapy is allowed). * Requirements for patients with NSCLC: * Newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve (except for prior surgery) metastatic NSCLC, with or without a targetable oncogenic driver alteration. * Known PD-L1 expression status (from primary tumour or from a metastatic lesion, including brain) * Known driver mutation status (from primary tumour or from a metastatic lesion, including brain). * Age of 18 years or older * Karnofsky performance status of 60 or more * Life expectancy \>12 weeks * Patients must be candidates for systemic treatment, within the defined cohorts (melanoma: cohorts 1a and 1b; NSCLC: cohorts 2a and 2b). * Women of childbearing potential, including women who had their last menstruation in the last 2 years, must have a negative urinary or serum pregnancy test within 7 days before randomisation. * Written IC for study participation must be signed and dated by the patient and the investigator prior to any study-related intervention. Most important exclusion criteria: * Confirmed or probable leptomeningeal metastases according to EANO ESMO criteria * Symptomatic brain metastases at time of randomisation, e.g., neurological symptoms or signs that require more than a stable dose of 4 mg dexamethasone equivalent for more than one week. * Patients must be off steroids or on a stable dose of ≤4 mg dexamethasone equivalent at randomisation. * Patients experiencing seizures controlled by anti-epileptic drugs are eligible. * Prior whole brain irradiation or focal radiation therapy to the brain * Prior systemic treatment for brain metastases * Contra-indication for SRS * Judgment by the investigator that the patient should not participate in the study if the patient is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements. * Women who are pregnant or in the period of lactation. * Sexually active men and women of childbearing potential who are not willing to use an effective contraceptive method during the study.
Where this trial is running
Naples and 14 other locations
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" — Naples, Italy (Recruiting)
- Instituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS — Padova, Italy (Not_yet_recruiting)
- Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital — Perugia, Italy (Recruiting)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Regina Elena" — Roma, Italy (Recruiting)
- Policlinico Umberto 1 — Rome, Italy (Recruiting)
- Azienda ospedaliero-universitaria Senese Siena — Siena, Italy (Recruiting)
- Nki-Avl — Amsterdam, Netherlands (Recruiting)
- Vall Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) — Barcelona, Spain (Recruiting)
- Hospital Puerta de Hierro — Majadahonda, Spain (Recruiting)
- Hospital La Fe — Valencia, Spain (Recruiting)
- Inselspital — Bern, Switzerland (Recruiting)
- Kantonsspital Winterthur — Winterthur, Switzerland (Recruiting)
- Universitätsspital Zürich — Zurich, Switzerland (Recruiting)
- Royal Marsden (Sutton) — London, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
- Christie NHS Manchester — Manchester, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Heidi Roschitzki-Voser, Dr.
- Email: heidi.roschitzki@etop.ibcsg.org
- Phone: +41 31 511 94 18
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.