A Phase 3 interventional study of Biospecimen Collection and Computed Tomography in Anatomic Stage IV Breast Cancer AJCC v8, Metastatic Breast Carcinoma and Metastatic Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by NRG Oncology. Recruiting at 58 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-17.
Sponsored by NRG Oncology · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
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Among 14 studies in Breast Neoplasms by NRG Oncology — 5 open to participants now, 9 under way, 8 of them phase 3. Breast Neoplasms · NRG Oncology.
Among the 14 studies in Breast Neoplasms by NRG Oncology, this one is the 11th largest by planned enrollment, is one of 2 that started in 2025, is one of 9 in phase 3, and was the 11th registered.
14,832 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 3,320 are open to participants now.
Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →5 of the 14 studies in Breast Neoplasms by NRG Oncology are open now, in 10 countries. Recruiting first, the newest first:
NRG Oncology · Sites in United States, Puerto Rico
Ages 18–50
NRG Oncology · Sites in United States, Canada, Colombia and 6 more countries
Ages 18–60 · Women only
NRG Oncology · Sites in United States, Canada, Hong Kong and 1 more country
Ages 50–70
NRG Oncology
Ages 30–85 · Women only
By country, each count listing its studies:
Of the 2,399 Breast Neoplasms studies recruiting now, 1,570 (65%) set no upper age limit and 592 (25%) stop at 75 or younger; 103 take children under 18; 215 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years and older · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
14 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 1 · Phase 2 3 · Phase 3 10
First in 2014; this study’s year is marked. 2 started in 2025.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 115 is above the median of 72 across 10,903 interventional studies indexed under Breast Neoplasms.
Median enrollment 330 across the 14 interventional studies. Of the 5 that completed or were terminated, 3 (60%) have results posted.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
NRG Oncology is the lead sponsor of 72 studies on the registry; 25 are open to participants now.
1 of the studies in Breast Neoplasms by NRG Oncology that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 0 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT05896189NRG OncologyCognitive Training for Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment in Breast Cancer Survivors | 2027-02-28 |
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Among the 14 studies in Breast Neoplasms by NRG Oncology, from their registry updates:
Nothing recorded among them since 2026-09-25.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
This phase III trial compares proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) to involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) for the treatment of breast or non-small cell lung cancer that has spread from where it first started to the cerebrospinal fluid filled space that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (leptomeningeal metastasis). Patients with leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) may develop multiple areas of nervous system (neurologic) impairment that can be life-threatening. Radiation therapy (RT) effectively relieves local symptoms due to LM. RT uses high energy radiography (x-rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. IFRT is commonly used to treat symptoms of LM. IFRT is radiation treatment that uses x-rays to treat specific areas of LM and to relieve and/or prevent symptoms. pCSI uses protons that can be directed with more accuracy than x-rays which allows treatment of the entire central nervous system space containing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), brain, and spinal cord. The pCSI treatment could delay the worsening of LM. Giving pCSI may be better than IFRT in treating LM in patients with breast or non-small cell lung cancer.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To compare overall survival (OS) between proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) and involved-field radiotherapy (IFRT) in patients with breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) leptomeningeal metastasis.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To compare central nervous system progression-free survival (CNS PFS) between pCSI and IFRT in patients with breast cancer or NSCLC leptomeningeal metastasis.
II. To compare time to CNS progression between pCSI and IFRT in patients with breast cancer or NSCLC leptomeningeal metastasis.
III. To compare CNS PFS between pCSI and IFRT in patients with breast cancer or NSCLC leptomeningeal metastasis, as evaluated by central review of imaging.
IV. To compare the rate of radiation-induced central nervous system necrosis between pCSI versus (vs.) IFRT in patients with breast cancer or NSCLC leptomeningeal metastasis.
V. To characterize treatment-related adverse events using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0.
VI. To compare patient-reported outcomes (symptoms severity subscale per MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Brain Tumors [MDASI-BT] and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Spine Tumors [MDASI-SP]) in patients with breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer leptomeningeal metastasis.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
I. To compare patient-reported outcomes (symptoms interference, brain tumor-specific, spine tumor-specific subscales per MDASI-BT and MDASI-SP) in patients with breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer leptomeningeal metastasis.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM 1: Patients undergo involved-field radiation therapy delivered to specific areas of LM that are causing and/or may cause symptoms 5 days a week for a total of 10 days of treatment in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT during screening and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as possible lumbar puncture (LP) throughout the study. Patients may optionally undergo research blood sample and CSF collection throughout the study.
ARM 2: Patients undergo pCSI radiation therapy delivered to the entire space containing the CSF, brain, and spinal cord 5 days a week for a total of 10 days of treatment in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or PET/CT during screening and MRI as well as possible LP throughout the study. Patients may optionally undergo research blood sample and CSF collection throughout the study.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months for 12 months, and then every 6 months for up to 3 years from end of RT.
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients must have newly diagnosed established through at least one of the following:
Positive CSF cytology for
Patients with an equivocal or negative CSF cytology result, or not suitable for CSF sampling, radiographic diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis with linear and/or nodular disease and documentation of typical clinical signs (European Association of Neuro-Oncology [EANO]-European Society for Medical Oncology [ESMO] Diagnostic Criteria Type IIA-IIC) is required
Not pregnant and not nursing
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread to the leptomeninges, the thin layers covering the brain and spinal cord, and the fluid between them. It is not the same as brain metastases.
Criteria often treat it separately, and many studies leave it out even where treated brain metastases are allowed.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.
“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.
Leptomeningeal disease
Cancer that has spread to the leptomeninges, the thin layers covering the brain and spinal cord, and the fluid between them. It is not the same as brain metastases.
Criteria often treat it separately, and many studies leave it out even where treated brain metastases are allowed.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Postmenopausal
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hemoglobin (Hb)
The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
CTCAE grade
The US National Cancer Institute’s scale of how severe an adverse event is — any unwanted medical event during a study, such as a symptom, an illness or an abnormal test result, whether or not a treatment caused it. Whether it did is judged separately.
“Side effects of earlier treatment resolved to grade 1 or less” means they have settled to mild or gone.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients undergo involved-field radiation therapy delivered to specific areas of LM that are causing and/or may cause symptoms 5 days a week for a total of 10 days of treatment in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or PET/CT during screening and MRI as well as LP throughout the study. Patients may optionally undergo research blood sample and CSF collection throughout the study.
Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Radiation: Involved-Field Radiation Therapy · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture · Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography · Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Patients undergo pCSI radiation therapy delivered to the entire space containing the CSF, brain, and spinal cord 5 days a week for a total of 10 days of treatment in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT or PET/CT during screening and MRI as well as possible LP throughout the study. Patients may optionally undergo research blood sample and CSF collection throughout the study.
Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Procedure: Lumbar Puncture · Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography · Radiation: Proton Beam Craniospinal Irradiation · Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment
Undergo blood and CSF sample collection
Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Specimen Collection
Undergo CT or PET/CT
Also known as: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type, tomography
Undergo IFRT
Also known as: IFRT, Involved field radiotherapy
Undergo LP
Also known as: LP, Spinal Tap
Undergo MRI
Also known as: Magnetic Resonance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan, Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, MR, MR Imaging, MRI, MRI Scan, MRIs, NMR Imaging, NMRI, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging, sMRI, Structural MRI
Undergo PET/CT
Also known as: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, PET, PET Scan, Positron emission tomography (procedure), Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Positron-Emission Tomography, PT
Undergo pCSI
Also known as: Craniospinal Proton Beam Radiation Therapy, p-CSI, Proton Craniospinal Irradiation, Proton Craniospinal Radiation Therapy
Ancillary studies
Also known as: Quality of Life Assessment
Overall survival (OS)
Will be event-driven and will be conducted when a total of 88 OS events (from both treatment arms) have been observed. The final analysis (if the trial does not stop early at an interim) is expected to occur roughly 45 months after study activation (including the initial 6-months ramp-up). All analyses (interim or final) will be done on a modified intent-to-treat (ITT) basis such that all randomized patients who have follow-up information will be included in the arm to which they are randomized regardless of what treatment the patients receive. Treatment comparisons will be based on the log-rank test. At the final analysis, if the test has an associated 1-sided p-value of 0.024 or less in favor of proton craniospinal irradiation (pCSI) (equivalently, Z \> 1.98), then the trial will conclude that the pCSI arm results in improved survival over the involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) arm.
Time frame: From randomization until death due to any cause, assessed up to 3 years
Central nervous system (CNS) progression-free survival (PFS)
Will be based on modified ITT, including all randomized patients who have follow-up information. The analysis will be performed according to the treatment arm to which patients were randomized. Analysis for CNS-PFS will consist of estimation of its distribution for each treatment arm via the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test. Statistical power will depend on the total CNS-PFS events accumulated at trial end. Additional analyses may consist of estimating the treatment hazard ratio via the Cox proportional hazards model accounting for prognostic covariates including randomization stratification factors evaluating whether the proportional hazards assumption holds or whether any treatment effect is notably time-varying, and evaluating for potential treatment by prognostic covariate interactions.
Time frame: Randomization until CNS progression or death, whichever occurs first, assessed up to 3 years
Time to CNS progression
Analysis for time to CNS progression will involve comparing the rate of CNS progression in patients who receive pCSI to patients who receive IFRT. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) estimator will be used to estimate the median time to CNS progression in the presence of competing event of deaths in the two arms, separately. The Gray's test will be used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of CNS progression between treatment arms. These results will be interpreted in light of the competing deaths. The comparison of treatment effect on time to CNS progression will involve estimating the cause-specific hazard ratio (CHR) in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for patients and disease characteristics (e.g. stratification randomization factors).
Time frame: Randomization until CNS progression, assessed up to 3 years
Time to radiation-induced CNS necrosis (TTRN)
Analysis will involve comparing the rate of radiation necrosis in patients who receive pCSI to patients who receive IFRT. Death will be treated as a competing risk event in this analysis. The cumulative incidence function (CIF) estimator will be used to estimate the median time to radiation-induced CNS necrosis in the presence of competing event of deaths in the two arms, separately. The Gray's test will be used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of TTRN between treatment arms. These results will be interpreted in light of the competing deaths. The comparison of treatment effect on TTRN will involve estimating the CHR in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for patients and disease characteristics (e.g. stratification randomization factors).
Time frame: Randomization until radiation necrosis in brain and/or spinal cord, assessed up to 3 years
Incidence of treatment-related adverse events (AEs)
Will be evaluated by comparative frequency summaries for all adverse event types between arms. AEs will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Comprehensive summaries of all AEs by treatment arm will be generated and examined. Counts and frequencies of worst (highest score) AE per patient will be presented overall and by AE type category, separately by assigned treatment group. The proportion of patients with at least one grade 3 or higher AE will be compared between treatment arms. Similarly, frequencies for specific potentially treatment related AEs where grade 3 or higher events are noted may be compared. Any frequencies to be tested will be evaluated using the chi-square or exact test as appropriate, with two-sided significance level 0.05.
Time frame: Baseline to 30 days from end of radiation therapy
Patient reported outcomes (PRO)
Will be assessed using MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Brain Tumors and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for Spine Tumors. Data from these four subscales will be analyzed separately. For each subscale, scores from individual questions will be averaged to arrive at a subscale-specific score for each patient. The symptom severity scores, symptom interference scores, and brain tumor-specific and spine tumor-specific scores will be summarized at each assessment timepoint using descriptive statistics and visualized with box plots and series plots. Changes over time will also be assessed visually. The comparison of changes in quality of life between treatment arms will be conducted separately for each of these four subscales using mixed effects models.
Time frame: Baseline to 24 months post-radiation therapy
Estimates of the primary outcome treatment effect by sex
Will estimate the primary outcome treatment effect and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by sex.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Estimates of the primary outcome treatment effect by race
Will estimate the primary outcome treatment effect and the corresponding 95% CIs by race.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Estimates of the primary outcome treatment effect by ethnicity
Will estimate the primary outcome treatment effect and the corresponding 95% CIs by ethnicity.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Plan to share: Yes — NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.
Data sharing details ↗ · grants.nih.gov
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Mar 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2028, 40 months after the start.
Of 328 non-industry phase 3 interventional studies under Breast Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 79 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 50 and three quarters within 127. This study's planned 40 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 600 studies reached it within 59 months; a quarter within 36 and three quarters within 96.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
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NRG Oncology