RecruitingPhase 2

Memory Avoidance Whole Brain Radiotherapy vs Hippocampal Avoidance Whole Brain Radiotherapy (Athena 2 Trial)

United States90 participantsStarted 2026-07

Plain-language summary

Participants in this research study have cancer that has spread to their brain, called brain metastases. One treatment for this type of cancer is called whole brain radiotherapy that stays away from a specific neurocognitive substructure, called the hippocampus, combined with medication to preserve cognitive function. This study compares that approach to another approach of whole brain radiotherapy that stays away from additional structures that are thought to have a role in cognitive function. Researchers want to see if there is a difference in the preservation of cognitive function between these two approaches.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have histologically, cytologically, or radiographically confirmed diagnosis of solid tumor with brain metastases * Age \>18 years * Performance status: Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70 * Estimated life expectancy of at least 3 months * Participant must be considered a candidate for WBRT by the treating physician * Participant must be a primary English speaker and have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign an English written informed consent document * Participant has at least 10 brain metastases or is otherwise suitable for WBRT Exclusion Criteria: * Prior whole brain radiation * Participant has Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's, dementia, or mental disability * Pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded from this study. * Participant is not able to receive an MRI * Participant has metastasis within avoidance neurocognitive substructures (hippocampus, amygdala, fornix, corpus callosum, pituitary, amygdala)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Time to neurocognitive failure (NCF)

Timeframe: Up to 12 months

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Day 1 (prior to WBRT treatment)

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 3

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 6

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 9

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 12

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)

Timeframe: Day 1 (prior to WBRT treatment)

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07248228

SponsorCase Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-05

Contact for this trial

Haley Perlow, MD

(216) 286-3906 haley.perlow@uhhospitals.org

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Brain Metastases trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Time to neurocognitive failure (NCF)

Timeframe: Up to 12 months

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Day 1 (prior to WBRT treatment)

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 3

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 6

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 9

Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

Timeframe: Month 12

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)

Timeframe: Day 1 (prior to WBRT treatment)

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)