Overview

When cancer spreads to the brain, doctors often use a precise type of radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to treat these tumors. This treatment can effectively control brain tumors while helping protect healthy brain tissue. However, when brain tumors or the areas where tumors were surgically removed are larger, treatment outcomes in terms of side effects and tumour control can become worse. Specifically, standard SRS on larger areas can have lower tumour control and higher risk of side effects, particularly a condition called radiation necrosis, which can cause swelling and damage in nearby healthy brain tissue.

Currently at Sunnybrook, large brain tumors are typically treated with SRS spread over 5 daily treatments using a machine called a linear accelerator. While this approach works well for many patients, it may be possible to improve results by combining two different types of radiation therapy machines - the linear accelerator and another specialized machine called the Gamma Knife.

In this study, the investigators want to test a new treatment approach where patients first receive 4 daily treatments using the linear accelerator, followed by a 1-2 week break, and then a final treatment using the Gamma Knife. The break between treatments allows the study doctors to take new scans and precisely target any remaining tumor, which may shrink during the break, thereby potentially reducing the amount of healthy brain tissue exposed to radiation. The Gamma Knife is also particularly good at delivering very precise radiation while sparing nearby healthy tissue. Lastly, there may be unique biological mechanisms between the two technologies that could be taken advantage of, by combining the technologies in the participant's treatment plan, to improve cancer control.

The investigators believe this combined approach might help achieve better tumor control while reducing the risk of side effects compared to using just the linear accelerator. This study will help the investigators understand if this new treatment strategy is safe and effective for patients with large brain tumors or surgical cavities, and whether it leads to better outcomes than the current treatment approach.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Presence of up to two large intracranial lesions
• Up to 10 (previously untreated, or progressing after previous treatment) brain metastases at the time of enrollment on the diagnostic MRI (which includes the ILLs) to be treated with SRS/HSRS
• Age => 18 years
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2
• Expected survival >3 months
• Patients that are deemed suitable for both GK and Linac based treatment
• Patients that are able to hold systemic cancer chemotherapy/immunotherapy at least 2 days prior and following an SRS fraction

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior SRS to the ILLs
• Prior WBRT, or plan for concurrent WBRT with the protocol treatment
• Presence or history of any leptomeningeal/pachymeningeal disease
• Metastatic disease within the ventricles of the brain or corpus callosum
• Small cell, hematopoietic or germ cell primaries
• Patient with absolutely contraindications for MRI
• Severe symptoms that preclude MRI or treatment using standard procedures for Linac or GK
• Pregnant or lactating patient
• Inability or unwillingness to undergo informed consent or post-treatment follow-up