This research is being done to assess the quality of life and symptom burden in participants who receive (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy (NTS-WBRT).

This research study involves:

• NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy)
• Memantine standard of care drug

This is a Phase 2 trial testing the safety and effectiveness of NTS-WBRT (normal tissue sparing whole brain radiation therapy) in treating brain metastases.

NTS-WBRT is a targeted radiation therapy that further reduces radiation dose to tissue that does not need radiation therapy treatment.

The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment including evaluations and follow up visits.

It is expected that about 41 people will take part in this research study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Any patient with a solid tumor diagnosis and any number of brain metastasis clinically indicated for cranial irradiation with whole brain radiation therapy
• Age ≥ 18
• Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 70
• Prior stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) permissible per physician discretion
• Prior craniotomy permissible per physician discretion. Protocol radiation therapy should be initiated ≥2 weeks after craniotomy.
• Prior partial brain radiation therapy permissible if target volume < 50% brain and per physician discretion
• Expectant > 6 months survival
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• Fluency in English, able to complete questionnaires and neurocognitive testing
• Ability to undergo MRI with gadolinium examination
• Ability to return for follow-up examinations throughout the course of this study for a maximum of 2 years after radiation treatment completion
• Any prior, concomitant, or post-radiotherapy systemic therapy is permitted at discretion of treating physicians
• Negative pregnancy test for premenopausal women

Exclusion Criteria:

• Leptomeningeal disease (by any one or more of clinical assessment, radiographic assessment, or cerebrospinal fluid study)
• Prior whole brain radiation therapy
• Pre-existing or current use of memantine or other NMDA antagonists
• Known allergy to contrast used in imaging studies and/or inability to have MRI imaging
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness that could significantly affect baseline cognitive function as determined by the enrolling clinician, such as symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, prior CVA, significant uncontrolled epilepsy or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant or unwilling to use appropriate contraception to prevent pregnancy during the time of radiation therapy
• Concurrent participation in an investigational systemic therapy protocol.

The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to: [contact information for Sponsor Investigator or designee]. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Data can be shared no earlier than 1 year following the date of publication

Contact the Partners Innovations team at http://www.partners.org/innovation