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Last Modified: 7/21/2008     First Published: 4/1/2002  
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Phase III Randomized Study of Radiotherapy With or Without Thalidomide in Patients With Multiple Brain Metastases

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outline
Published Results
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Radiation Therapy With or Without Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Brain Metastases

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
Phase IIITreatmentCompletedOver 18NCIRTOG-BR-0118
RTOG-DEV-1006, NCT00033254

Objectives

  1. Compare the overall survival of patients with multiple brain metastases treated with radiotherapy with or without thalidomide.
  2. Compare the time to tumor progression in patients treated with these regimens.
  3. Compare the time to neuro-cognitive progression in patients treated with these regimens.
  4. Compare the cause of death distribution in patients treated with these regimens.
  5. Compare the frequency of toxic effects of these regimens in these patients.
  6. Evaluate and compare the quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Histologically confirmed extracranial primary malignancy
  • Multiple brain metastases
  • At least 1 measurable brain metastasis by MRI
    • More than 4.0 cm

      OR

    • Located in midbrain or brainstem (radiosurgery ineligible)

Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy:

  • No prior thalidomide

Chemotherapy:

  • More than 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy
  • Concurrent chemotherapy allowed if more than 6 weeks past study entry (allowed during first 6 weeks of study if disease progression occurs)

Endocrine therapy:

  • Not specified

Radiotherapy:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • No prior radiotherapy to the head or neck
  • No prior radiosurgery

Surgery:

  • Prior resection of brain metastases allowed

Other:

  • No concurrent anticoagulant therapy

Patient Characteristics:

Age:

  • Over 18

Performance status:

  • Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

  • At least 8 weeks

Hematopoietic:

  • Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
  • Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin at least 11 g/dL*
  • Hematocrit at least 35%*

 [Note: * Transfusion and/or epoetin alfa allowed]

Hepatic:

  • Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
  • ALT no greater than 2 times normal

Renal:

  • Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
  • BUN no greater than 25 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

  • No history of deep venous thrombosis

Other:

  • No sensory neuropathy grade 2 or greater
  • No known AIDS
  • No other major medical illness or psychiatric impairments that would preclude study therapy
  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective barrier method of contraception during and for at least 4 weeks after study

Expected Enrollment

A total of 332 patients (166 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 14.5 months.

Outline

This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to recursive partitioning analysis class (I vs II) and planned chemotherapy after whole brain irradiation (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients undergo radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week for 3 weeks.
  • Arm II: Patients undergo radiotherapy as in arm I. Beginning on the first day of radiotherapy, patients receive oral thalidomide once daily. Treatment with thalidomide continues for 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at completion of radiotherapy, and then every 2 months for 1 year.

Patients are followed every 2 months for 1 year, every 4 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 2 years, and then annually thereafter.

Published Results

Corn BW, Moughan J, Knisely JP, et al.: Prospective evaluation of quality of life and neurocognitive effects in patients with multiple brain metastases receiving whole-brain radiotherapy with or without thalidomide on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trial 0118. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 71 (1): 71-8, 2008.[PUBMED Abstract]

Knisely JP, Berkey B, Chakravarti A, et al.: A phase III study of conventional radiation therapy plus thalidomide versus conventional radiation therapy for multiple brain metastases (RTOG 0118). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 71 (1): 79-86, 2008.[PUBMED Abstract]

Knisely JPS, Berkey BA, Chakravarti A, et al.: RTOG 0118: a phase III study of conventional radiation therapy alone vs. conventional radiation therapy plus thalidomide for multiple brain metastases. [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 23 (Suppl 16): A-1500, 114s, 2005.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

Jonathan Knisely, MD, FRCPC, Protocol chair
Ph: 203-785-2960; 866-925-3226
Email: jonathan.knisely@yale.edu

Registry Information
Official Title A Phase III Study Of Conventional Radiation Therapy Plus Thalidomide (NSC# 66847) Versus Conventional Radiation Therapy For Multiple Brain Metastases
Trial Start Date 2002-06-10
Trial Completion Date 2008-05-01
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00033254
Date Submitted to PDQ 2002-02-05
Information Last Verified 2004-06-17
NCI Grant/Contract Number CA21661

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

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