A Pilot Study to Evaluate Neuropsychological Outcome Measures and Their Relationship With Prognosis in Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases

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Detailed Summary

Background: * There are no standardized sets of tests to measure changes in neuropsychological functioning in patients treated for brain metastasis (cancer that has spread beyond the original site to the brain). * Neuropsychological function has an important effect on quality of life and should be included when determining treatment options. Objectives: * To find out if there is a change in patients cognitive (thinking) and daily functioning after standard radiation treatment for brain metastasis that can be measured with tests. * To see if any changes on these tests are related to patients response to radiation therapy. Eligibility: \- Patients 18 years of age or older who have cancer that has spread to the brain. Design: * Patients receive a 2-week course of radiation therapy to the brain, given daily 5 days a week. Some patients may require stereotactic radiosurgery (an additional boost of radiation therapy to specific sites of brain metastasis). * Patients have the following evaluations before and after treatment to determine changes in cognition and functioning: * Neuropsychological testing to measure cognitive (thinking) abilities like memory, attention, processing speed, and reading, and fine motor skills. * Questionnaires to assess quality of life and daily living skills. * Patients have MRI scans and blood and urine tests. * At the completion of radiation treatment, patients return to the clinic for follow-up visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months for blood and urine tests, physical examination, MRI of the brain, neuropsychological testing and assessments of quality of life and daily living skills.

Study Details

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Arms & Interventions