Radiation therapy has long been part of the default treatment for patients with brain metastases—tumors that started somewhere in the body and spread to the brain. But what if it didn’t have to be?
Radiation oncologist and Larner professor Chris Anker, M.D., and colleagues at the UVM Cancer Center (UVMCC) are challenging conventional wisdom with three integrated clinical trials aimed at reimagining care with more personalized, less intensive approaches:
- Funded through a UVMCC grant and led by Dr. Anker, the ACTION clinical trial starts the patient on several systemic therapies and monitors impact through MRI brain scans. If the brain metastases shrink, patients can defer or avoid radiation.
- A complementary national phase III trial led by Nataniel Lester-Coll, M.D., UVMCC member, UVM Health chair of radiation oncology, and Larner associate professor, explores whether dividing one high-dose radiation treatment into three treatments is not only easier on the brain in terms of side effects, but potentially more effective in preventing further tumor growth.
- Whichever path they choose, patients can also participate in a third study, which is funded by UVMCC and offers coordinated, enhanced care team support and palliative care integration to increase the efficiency and impact of their clinic visits. Led by Alissa Thomas, M.D., UVMCC member, UVM Health division chief of neuro-oncology, and a Larner associate professor, this study explores how brain metastases patients understand their condition and options, and how they feel about their care experience when they receive wrap-around support.
Collaborative and customizable, this trio of interrelated studies at UVMCC reflects a broader shift toward more collaborative, personalized cancer care. “Patients appreciate having a menu of good options they can choose from, with detailed discussions about the pros and cons of each,” Anker notes. “It’s not just about reducing toxicity—it’s about trust, collaboration, and evolving how we care.”