An interventional study of Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board Review in Brain Metastases, sponsored by John L. Villano, MD, PhD. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-25.
Sponsored by John L. Villano, MD, PhD · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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This study evaluates whether review by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Neuro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Tumor Board improves clinical outcomes for adults with advanced brain metastases. Participants receive standard-of-care treatment as determined by their treating physicians. The study assesses whether multidisciplinary tumor board review and implementation of its treatment recommendations are associated with improved overall survival, progression-free survival, treatment selection and other clinical outcomes compared with patients who do not adhere to the tumor board recommendations.
Brain metastases are a common complication of advanced cancer and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Management is complex and often requires coordination among multiple specialties including medical oncology, radiation oncology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology, pharmacy, and supportive care. Despite advances in systemic therapies and radiation techniques, optimal treatment selection remains challenging, particularly because the biology of brain metastases may differ from that of the primary tumor.
This study evaluates the impact of the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center Neuro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Tumor Board on the management of adults with suspected or confirmed brain metastases. Eligible participants are presented to the multidisciplinary tumor board, where specialists review clinical, imaging, pathology, and molecular information, when available, to develop individualized treatment recommendations. Treating physicians determine the final treatment approach and implementation of the tumor board recommendation is documented.
Participants receive standard-of-care therapies as clinically indicated, which may include surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, whole-brain radiation therapy, systemic therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or supportive care. No investigational treatment is assigned as part of this protocol. Clinical outcomes, including overall survival, progression-free survival, treatment patterns, time to treatment initiation, and adherence to multidisciplinary recommendations are collected and analyzed. The study also seeks to determine whether multidisciplinary review is associated with improved patient outcomes and more coordinated care for individuals with advanced brain metastases.
2,441 studies on the registry are indexed under Brain Neoplasms; 541 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 125 is above the median of 40 across 1,832 interventional studies indexed under Brain Neoplasms.
Browse Brain Neoplasms studies →John L. Villano, MD, PhD is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
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.
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Histologically or cytologically confirmed
The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).
Your pathology report is the document that shows this.
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.
Brain metastases
Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).
Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Measurable disease
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Life expectancy
The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Participants with brain metastases undergo review by the Markey Cancer Center Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board. Treatment recommendations may include surgery, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, observation, or referral to additional clinical trials. Outcomes including adherence to recommendations and overall survival will be assessed.
Other: Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board Review
Participants with brain metastases undergo review by the Markey Cancer Center Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board. Treatment recommendations may include surgery, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, observation, or referral to additional clinical trials. Outcomes including adherence to recommendations and overall survival will be assessed.
Adherence to Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board Treatment Recommendations
Proportion of participants who follow treatment recommendations made by the Neuro-Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Tumor Board.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Sep 2029, 36 months later.
Of 306 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Brain Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 65 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 36 and three quarters within 125. This study's planned 36 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 317 studies reached it within 64 months; a quarter within 35 and three quarters within 125.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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John L. Villano, MD, PhD