Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04062305

nTMS in Planning Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Patients With Brain Metastases in the Motor Cortex

This trial studies how well nTMS works in planning for stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain metastases in the motor cortex. Stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of radiation therapy that delivers high doses of radiation, which can sometimes lead to damage occurring to the brain and surrounding areas. The motor cortex (the part of the nervous system that controls muscle movement), however, currently has no radiation dose limit. nTMS is a non-invasive tool that uses sensors on a patient's muscle to trace the location in their brain that controls that muscle and is currently used by doctors to decide where to operate so as not to damage the motor nerves. nTMS may effectively help plan radiation treatment using SRS and help doctors decide on how much radiation can be used on motor nerves.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain Brain Diseases Brain Neoplasms Central Nervous System Diseases Central Nervous System Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Neoplasms Radiation Therapy Recipient

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine if the use of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) in the radiation oncology clinic is feasible.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To investigate the relationship of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) dosimetry and lesion involvement in the motor tracts identified using nTMS and the presence or absence of motor deficits evaluated by objective and subjective measures (Manual Ability Measure [MAM]-20, Euroqol [EQ]-5 Dimensional [D]-5 Level [L], and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory [MDASI]-Brain Tumor [BT] questionnaires).

II. To determine if nTMS of contralateral motor tracts provides a viable internal control, considering handedness.

III. To aid in the design of a prospective, randomized clinical trial that will limit radiation dose to brain metastases located in close proximity to the motor cortex with the goal of improving functional and quality of life outcomes measured by occupational therapy tasks and the MAM-20, EQ-5D-5L, and MDASI-BT questionnaires.

IV. To explore the utility of electroencephalography (EEG) in correlation with nTMS and reported functional outcomes measured by occupational therapy tasks and the MAM-20, EQ-5D-5L, and MDASI-BT questionnaires.

OUTLINE:

Patients undergo nTMS over 1 hour. Patients also perform 4 tasks that test grip and pinch strength and the ability to use and feel with their hands for 1 hour.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patients with brain metastases located in or near the motor cortex who have previously received SRS to that lesion within the prior 3-18 months
  • Patients must be able to participate in nTMS of bilateral motor cortices
  • Patients must be able to participate in an electromyography (EMG)
  • Patient's must have utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for their previous SRS treatment planning
  • Patient must be able to complete the Functional and Quality of Life questionnaires in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Significant cognitive or psychiatric symptoms that prevent the ability to complete a physical exam, questionnaires, or participate in nTMS or EMG
  • Poor performance status Karnofsky performance score (KPS < 60) that prevents the ability to participate in a physical exam, nTMS, or EMG. Patients will not be excluded if they are not able to complete the exploratory EEG analysis
  • Patients receiving any prior treatment that might impact their cognitive, psychiatric, or motor cortex function

Treatment and study plan

Hand Function Test

Behavioral

Complete tasks that test grip strength, pinch strength, and ability to use and feel with hands

Other names: Hand Sensory Test

Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Procedure

Undergo nTMS

Other names: Navigated TMS, nTMS

Quality-of-Life Assessment

Other

Ancillary studies

Other names: Quality of Life Assessment

Questionnaire Administration

Other

Ancillary studies

Primary outcomes

  1. Operational feasibility of navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS)

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Will be determined to be operationally feasible on a patient if the images and data obtained from nTMS for the patient provide useful information to the radiation oncologist and if the radiation oncologist determines that this additional information would improve patient care. Will deem the use of nTMS to be operationally feasible overall if it is deemed operationally feasible on an underlying proportion of at least 90% potentially consented patients. Will calculate the proportions of operational and technical feasibility of the use of nTMS and their 80% confidence intervals (CIs). If the observed proportions are greater than or equal to 82%, the use of nTMS to be operationally and technically will be deemed feasible.

  2. Technical feasibility of nTMS

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Will be determined to be technically feasible on a patient if the procedure of nTMS is able to be performed on the patient, resulting in mapped motor cortex data. If the patient is not able to complete the procedure for any reason, that patient's nTMS treatment will not be technically feasible. Will deem the use of nTMS to be technically feasible overall if it is deemed technically feasible on an underlying proportion of at least 90% potentially consented patients. Will calculate the proportions of operational and technical feasibility of the use of nTMS and their 80% CIs. If the observed proportions are greater than or equal to 82%, the use of nTMS to be operationally and technically will be deemed feasible.

  3. Economic feasibility of nTMS

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Will be determined to be economically feasible if there are no additional costs to the patients and department, other than those outlined in the proposed budget.

  4. Identification of the motor cortex by addition of nTMS

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    The treating radiation oncologist will determine if the use of nTMS provides additional information over the standard atlas-based definition of the motor region if they state that they would have made adjustments to their treatment volume of the tumor based on the new nTMS data provided.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) dosimetry and lesion involvement in the motor tracts

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    The relationship will be identified using nTMS. Dose volume histogram data for the motor cortex and motor tracts will be generated.

  2. Presence or absence of motor deficits

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Will be determined by the Manual Ability Measure-20, Euroqol-5 Dimensional-5 Level, and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory - Brain Tumor questionnaires. Data analyses will be performed to determine correlations between objective/subjective deficits (based on the results of the questionnaires) and dose volume histogram data for the motor cortex and tracts.

  3. Production of viable internal control by contralateral motor tract, accounting for handedness

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

  4. Development of a clinical trial that will limit radiation dose to brain metastases

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    Will determine if trial can aid in the design of a prospective, randomized clinical trial that will limit radiation dose to brain metastases located in close proximity to the motor cortex with the goal of improving functional and quality of life outcomes based on meeting the primary objective of this study.

  5. Utility of electroencephalography (EEG)

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

    The utility of EEG in correlation with nTMS and reported functional outcomes will be explored.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Feasibility of Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS) of Patients Treated With Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases in the Motor Cortex: A Comprehensive Cross-Sectional Assessment

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 20, 2019
Registry last updated
Jul 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.