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NCT Number: NCT03595878

Trial of Parotid Sparing Whole Brain Radiation

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of parotid sparing in reducing measurable xerostomia (dry mouth) in patients undergoing whole brain radiotherapy. This is primarily a two-arm, single-blind, randomized study of parotid sparing whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), with a third observational arm of patients who were identified after radiation had already started or who refused randomization but were willing to be followed for quality of life assessment. Qualifying patients who are interested in participating in the trial will be asked to complete an anonymous screening baseline xerostomia questionnaire. If their raw score on this questionnaire meets eligibility criteria, they will be offered enrollment on the study. Patients identified prior to radiation start will be offered enrollment into the interventional randomization arm, with the observation arm offered to those who refuse randomization. Patients identified after radiation has already started, but within 5 days of the first day of radiation, will be offered enrollment into the observational arm. Questionnaires completed by patients who consent to the trial will be assigned patient information (de-anonymized) and serve as their baseline quality of life data. After baseline assessment, subjects will be asked to complete the same questionnaire again at the end of treatment, as well as two weeks, one month, three months, and six months after treatment completion.

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Key information

Conditions

Xerostomia Mouth Diseases Salivary Gland Diseases Stomatognathic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients to be treated with WBRT using 3-dimensional conformal RT in 10-15 fractions to a total dose of 30-35 Gy for any diagnosis other than elective treatment of potentially subclinical intracranial disease.
  • No prior radiation that would have exposed the parotids to a significant level of radiation (estimated >10 Gy mean parotid dose). Patients receiving prior stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastasis are eligible for inclusion in this trial as this form of radiation is highly conformal and exposes the parotids to minimal (estimated <1 Gy) radiation.
  • Patients enrolling on the observational arm may have started their current course of whole brain radiation therapy within 5 days prior to completing the baseline screening questionnaire and consenting to study.
  • Greater than or equal to 18 years of age (no upper age limit).
  • Raw xerostomia score < 40 / 80 on the initial screening xerostomia questionnaire. This is calculated by adding up the values from questions 1-8.
  • Initial xerostomia questionnaire and informed consent obtained within the required time frame (≤ 30 days before RT start for interventional arm; ≤ 5 days after RT start for observational arm).

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients receiving WBRT without the use of a CT- or MRI-based planning simulation.
  • Patients receiving WBRT with the use of intensity-modulated radiation therapy.
  • Patient receiving WBRT as elective treatment of potentially subclinical intracranial disease (e.g., WBRT for prophylactic cranial irradiation of small cell lung cancer).
  • Patients physically unable to communicate by paper or phone to complete the study survey.
  • Prisoners.
  • Pregnant patients.

Treatment and study plan

Parotid sparing WBRT

Radiation

Whole Brain Radiation Therapy with avoidance of the parotid glands

Standard WBRT

Radiation

Standard Whole Brain Radiation Therapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Xerostomia One Month After Completion of Treatment

    Time frame: Up to 45 days

    Between baseline and 1 month after the treatment xerostomia symptoms were assessed, in 2 randomized groups namely Arm A and Arm B.

    Xerostomia symptoms were assessed using the patient-reported study xerostomia questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 8 questions, and each question score changes between 0 to 10. The increasing value represents worse xerostomia symptoms. No xerostomia symptom= 0 and highest xerostomia symptom=10. The total score will be on a scale from 0-80 (8 categories with a maximum score of 10).

    Changes in xerostomia symptoms in each arm were tabulated. Positive values represent increased xerostomia symptoms and negative values represent decreasing xerostomia symptoms and no difference is no change.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Freedom From Relapse

    Time frame: Up to 6 months

    The number of subjects with marginal cervical spine relapse in each randomization arm.

  2. Xerostomia Based on Radiotherapy Treatment Fields- One Month After the Treatment

    Time frame: Up to 45 days

    Between baseline and 1 month after the treatment xerostomia symptoms were assessed and tabulated based on the whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) technique. The Standard WBRT Group includes both randomized (Group A) and non-randomized (Group C) subjects who received WBRT. The Parotid Sparing WBRT Group includes subjects who were randomized and received Parotid Sparing WBRT (Group B). Xerostomia symptoms were assessed using the patient-reported study xerostomia questionnaire. The questionnaire includes 8 questions, and each question score changes between 0 to 10. The increasing value represents worse xerostomia symptoms. No xerostomia symptom= 0 and highest xerostomia symptom=10. The total score will be on a scale from 0-80 (8 categories with a maximum score of 10). Changes were tabulated as: Positive values represent worsened xerostomia symptoms, and both negative values and no change values represent did not worsen.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Other

Collaborators

  • University of Michigan
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Trial of Parotid Sparing Whole Brain Radiation

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Jul 23, 2018
Registry last updated
Apr 25, 2025

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.

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