Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Increasing radiation doses for treating brain metastases

Official title: Phase I Study of Stereotactic Radiosurgery Dose Escalation for Brain Metastases

Run by University of Utah · NCT02390518 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing higher doses of radiation during a specific type of surgery to see if it can safely help people with untreated brain metastases feel better.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment86 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Utah
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation
Locations1 site (Salt Lake City, Utah)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 7, 2015
Main results expectedApril 2028
Study endsOctober 2029
Registry record updatedJuly 2, 2026
Trial IDNCT02390518 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are patients with 1-5 untreated brain metastases who have not previously received radiation therapy.

Probably not a fit

Patients with brain metastases who have already received radiation treatment or those with certain excluded histologies may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This Phase I trial aims to determine the maximum tolerated dose of radiation during stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with untreated brain metastases. The study focuses on individuals who have not previously received radiation to the brain and will assess the safety and efficacy of escalating doses. Participants will undergo imaging to confirm the presence of brain metastases, and those with specific eligibility criteria will be enrolled. The trial is designed to enhance treatment options for patients with this condition.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a more effective radiation treatment option for patients with brain metastases.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored dose escalation in stereotactic radiosurgery, showing promising results, but this specific approach is still being evaluated.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinically confirmed brain metastases by CT or MRI criteria. If there is evidence of extra-cranial metastatic disease, it is preferable that the lesions be pathologically confirmed (see section 4.2.5 for excluded histologies) and reviewed by a University of Utah or Huntsman Cancer Hospital pathologist if the initial review was done at an outside facility.
* Prior brain surgery is allowed, although a lesion situated in the operative bed would not be selected to receive an experimental dose of SRS treatment. SRS should be delivered 4-6 weeks post-surgery if the patient had a craniotomy for resection of a lesion. Enrollment of a patient with the goal of performing SRS outside of the 4-6 post-craniotomy window is at the PI's discretion.
* Patients must have 1-5 untreated brain metastases total.
* For patients planning to enroll in Cohort 1a (including expansion) or Cohort 1b: Tumor volume ≤ 4.1888 cm3 by CT or MRI measurement at the time of consultation/screening for the metastatic lesion on trial. Patients who have at least one additional lesion that is larger than the lesions eligible for the expansion cohort, but who are unable to find another open cohort, will have the eligible lesion(s) treated in the expansion cohort, and the remaining lesion(s) treated at the standard dose.

  * For patients enrolling in the expansion Cohort 1a: Up to five brain metastases with tumor volume ≤ 0.5237 cm3 by CT or MRI measurement at the time of consultation/screening will be treated on trial with the MTD. Brain metastases with volume \> 0.5237 cm3 will be treated by standard of care SRS dosing.
  * For patients enrolling in Cohort 1b: Tumor volume of \> 0.5237 cm3 and ≤ 4.1888 cm3 by CT or MRI measurement at the time of consultation/screening for the metastatic lesion on trial. All other brain metastases will be treated by standard of care SRS dosing.
* As of Protocol Version 9, Cohorts 2 and 3 are permanently closed to accrual. For patients planning to enroll in Cohort 2 or 3: Equivalent tumor diameter ≤ 40 mm by CT or MRI measurement at the time of consultation/screening for the metastatic lesion on trial. Equivalent tumor diameter \</=40 mm by CT or MRI measurement for all lesions treated by standard of care SRS dosing.
* All metastatic lesions must be separated by a minimum of 3 cm as measured from the peripheral edges of the lesions that are in closest proximity to one another. If multiple lesions are present and are not all ≥ 3 cm away from each other, the patient will be deemed ineligible.
* Prior systemic therapy is allowed, although appropriate washout is required for patients who have been on BRAF inhibitors (at least 7 days).
* For subjects currently on active systemic cancer therapy, the treating medical oncologist should be consulted to ensure proper washout (if appropriate) periods prior to SRS.
* Patients must be at least 18 years of age.
* Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60.
* Able to provide informed consent and have signed an approved consent form that conforms to federal and institutional guidelines.
* Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 10 days of study enrollment and must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control while receiving radiation and for 3 months after radiation. Women of non-childbearing potential may be included if they are either surgically sterile or have been postmenopausal for \>1 year.
* Men who are able to father a child must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control while receiving radiation, and for 3 months after radiation.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior whole brain irradiation.
* Brain lesions with an equivalent diameter of \> 40 mm in size on MRI imaging at the time of consultation/screening for protocol eligibility.
* Lesions located in anatomic regions that are not amendable to SRS (e.g., optic nerve)
* Brain lesions located in the brain stem.
* Radiographic or cytologic evidence of leptomeningeal disease
* Primary lesion with radiosensitive histology that includes the following: small cell carcinoma, germ cell tumors, lymphoma, leukemia, or multiple myeloma
* Women of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or breast feeding
* Patients with multiple lesions, which by size criteria would be enrolled in a cohort that is full at the time of enrollment and the 12-16 weeks DLT period has not yet been reached.

Where it's running

  • Huntsman Cancer Institute
    Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.