Compares two radiation treatments for multiple brain tumors spread from lung cancer
Compares focused radiosurgery with whole-brain radiotherapy in adults with lung cancer and brain metastases.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The CyberChallenge Trial How Much is Too Much - What is the Role of Cyberknife Radiosurgery in Patients With Multiple Brain Metastases?
Key facts
- Where
- Heidelberg, GermanySee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with a confirmed cancer who have 4 to 15 suspected lesions in the brain. It compares two kinds of radiation treatment.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Confirmed cancer with 4-15 suspected lesions in the brain, counted on all available MRI series.
- Earlier treatment
- People who had earlier radiotherapy of the brain cannot join. People must have recovered from acute high-grade toxicities of earlier therapies.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Small-cell lung cancer or lymphoma as the main cancer
- More than 15 suspected lesions in the brain
- Leptomeningeal disease
- Previous radiotherapy of the brain
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in Germany
- University Hospital of Heidelberg, Radiation OncologyHeidelberg, GermanyContact: Jürgen Debus, Prof. Dr.Taking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- University Hospital Heidelberg
- Trial code
- NCT05378633
- Record updated
- 10 March 2026
- Original description
Patients suffering from malignancies in advanced stages often develop brain metastases, which limit both the life span and the quality of life.Read full original descriptionShow less
The CyberChallenge Trial How Much is Too Much - What is the Role of Cyberknife Radiosurgery in Patients With Multiple Brain Metastases?
Patients suffering from malignancies in advanced stages often develop brain metastases, which limit both the life span and the quality of life.
Therapy options for multiple brain metastases may vary and range from stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), chemotherapy, immunotherapy to palliative best supportive care. Especially the efficacy and toxicity of SRS compared to WBRT in patients with extensive brain metastases (>4) is not yet clear but of incremental relevance in this seriously ill cohort with a limited life span. These health-impaired patients might especially profit from a less toxic treatment that is also time sparing with 1 or few sessions in SRS versus 10 sessions in WBRT. On the other hand, no compromises in efficacy want to be done.
Inclusion: histologically confirmed malignant illness; 4-15 suspect intracranial lesions, taking into consideration all available MRI series; age ≥ 18 years of age; For women with childbearing potential, (and men) adequate contraception; Ability of subject to understand character and individual consequences of the clinical trial; Written informed consent (must be available before enrolment in the trial).
Exclusion: Inability to tolerate irradiation consistent with the protocol; Previous radiotherapy of the brain; Patients who have not yet recovered from acute high-grade toxicities of prior therapies; Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) or lymphoma as primary malignant illness; leptomeningeal disease; MRI contraindication (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, certain cardiac valve replacements, certain metal implants); Refusal of the patients to take part in the study; >15 suspect intracranial lesions, taking into consideration all available MRI series; Pregnant or lactating women; Participation in another competing clinical study or observation period of competing trials, respectively.