Recruiting
Phase 2

SSRS vs. FSRT

Sponsor:

Medical University of South Carolina

Code:

NCT07227610

Conditions

Brain Metastases

Cancer (With CNS Involvement)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Staged Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SSRS)

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT)

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a randomized, phase II trial comparing staged stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) versus fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) in patients with large brain metastases (≥2 cm and ≤5 cm). The study aims to evaluate efficacy, safety, and tumor response between these two standard-of-care radiation approaches.

Conditions

Brain Metastases

Cancer (With CNS Involvement)

Study ID

NCT07227610

Start date

Feb 3, 2026

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Feb 3, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb 3, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The patient or a legally authorized representative must be able and willing to provide study-specific informed consent prior to study entry.
2. Patient must be willing to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
3. Male or female, aged ≥ 18 years
4. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60 within 7 days prior to registration
5. Radiographic confirmation of brain metastasis measuring ≥2 cm and ≤ 5 cm in maximum diameter

1. Multiple metastases are allowed. Additional metastases will be treated with single fraction SRS as per standard of care. Up to 10 additional smaller metastases are allowed on protocol. All additional smaller metastases must be less than 2 cm.
2. If a patient has more than one large metastasis (measuring between 2 and 5 cm as above), up to two can be treated on study protocol
3. All tumors must be ≥ 5mm from the optic chiasm and optic nerves.
6. Known active or history of invasive non-CNS primary cancer based on documented pathologic diagnosis within the past 3 years
7. Patient is able to medically tolerate SRS
8. Patient is neurologically stable (immediate surgery not necessary or not recommended)
9. A negative urine or serum pregnancy test (in persons of childbearing potential) within 7 days prior to registration. Childbearing potential is defined as any person who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone surgical sterilization (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy) or who is not postmenopausal.
10. Participants who are sexually active must agree to use medically acceptable forms of contraception during treatment on this study to prevent pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior cranial radiotherapy, including whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), or SRS in the area of the large metastasis to be treated on study.
2. Evidence of leptomeningeal disease (LMD) Note: For the purposes of exclusion, LMD is a clinical diagnosis, defined as positive CSF cytology and/or unequivocal radiologic or clinical evidence of leptomeningeal involvement. Patients with leptomeningeal symptoms in the setting of leptomeningeal enhancement by imaging (MRI) would be considered to have LMD even in the absence of positive CSF cytology. In contrast, an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patient with mild or nonspecific leptomeningeal enhancement (MRI) would not be considered to have LMD. In such cases, CSF sampling is not required to formally exclude LMD, but can be performed at the investigator's discretion based on level of clinical suspicion.
3. Inability to undergo MRI with contrast
4. Planned administration of systemic therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) within 3 days prior to, the day of, or 3 days after completion of SRS.

Study Design

Enrollment

54 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Staged Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SSRS)

Patient will be scheduled for treatment with SSRS within one week of randomization. The large brain metastasis (or metastases) will be treated to a dose of 24-30 Gy in two fractions. Interval between the two fractions will be 30 days (+/- 10 days). MRI brain for planning purposes will be obtained either on the day of each treatment, or within 7 days prior to each treatment. Individual dosing for each fraction will be determined by the treating radiation oncologist, but total dose must equal 24-30 Gy. Any additional smaller metastases will be treated in a single fraction concurrently. Fixation for treatment will be either in a surgical headframe or mask.

experimental: Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT)

Patient will be scheduled for treatment with FSRT within one week of randomization. FSRT will be performed with mask fixation. Fractionation will be 27 Gy in 3 daily fractions. The 3 daily fractions must be completed over a period of 3-5 days. MRI for planning purposes must be completed within 7 days prior to delivery of first fraction. Any additional smaller metastases will be treated in a single fraction concurrently.

Interventions

Staged Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SSRS)

The large brain metastasis (or metastases) will be treated to a dose of 24-30 Gy in two fractions. Interval between the two fractions will be 30 days (+/- 10 days). Individual dosing for each fraction will be determined by the treating radiation oncologist, but total dose must equal 24-30 Gy.

Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (FSRT)

Fractionation will be 27 Gy in 3 daily fractions. The 3 daily fractions must be completed over a period of 3-5 days.

Primary outcome measure

  • Time to Composite unfavorable outcome (CUO) by (1) lack of local control (disease progression for any lesion treated on study); (2) the need for further intervention to the treated tumor; (3) radiation necrosis. [ Time Frame: Up to 36 months. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center

Recruiting

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425

Contacts

More Information

Sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Last update posted

Feb 5, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Keywords

  • Cancer
  • Brain

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Medical University of South Carolina on 2026-02-05.