Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40747537›Full record

Trial reportNeuro-oncology2025

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy versus whole-brain radiotherapy following brain metastasis resection: Results of the ESTRON randomized phase 2 trial.

Rami A El Shafie, Denise Bernhardt, Thomas Welzel, Annabella Schiele, Daniela Schmitt, Paul Thalmann, Sinem Erdem, Tanja Eichkorn, Angela Paul, Kristin Lang and 11 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in Neuro-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Radionecrosis risk and local control after CyberKnifeRadiation oncology (London, England) · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Rami A El ShafieTechnical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-1355-7882
Denise BernhardtTechnical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Munich, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-5231-9097
Thomas WelzelNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Annabella SchieleNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Daniela SchmittTechnical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Munich, Germany.
Paul ThalmannInstitute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Sinem ErdemNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Tanja EichkornNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Angela PaulNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Kristin LangNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Laila KönigNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Fabian WeykampNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Sebastian AdebergDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Adriane Lentz-HommertgenNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Cornelia JäkelNational Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.
Farastuk BozorgmehrTranslational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg (TLRC-H), German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Germany.
Michael ThomasTranslational Lung Research Centre Heidelberg (TLRC-H), German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Germany.
Anja SanderInstitute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Meinhard KieserInstitute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jürgen DebusClinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Stefan RiekenTechnical University of Munich (TUM), School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Munich, Germany.

Funding

Accuray Inc
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPostoperative radiotherapy improves local control after brain metastasis (BM) resection. Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) reduces recurrence risk but impairs neurocognition. Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy of the cavity (HFSRT) may offer equivalent tumor control with reduced toxicity. ESTRON is the first randomized trial comparing post-operative HFSRT and WBRT.

methodsThis single-center phase 2 trial randomized 56 patients with resected BM to receive HFSRT (35 Gy in 7 fractions) or WBRT (30 Gy in 10 fractions). Patients could have ≤ 10 additional unresected BMs. The primary endpoint was intracranial progression-free survival (ic-PFS). Secondary endpoints included local control (LC), overall survival (OS), leptomeningeal disease (LMD), and toxicity.

resultsFifty-four patients were evaluable (n = 27 per arm). At 24.7 months median follow-up, 12-month ic-PFS was 44.4% (HFSRT) versus 59.3% (WBRT) (HR 1.72, P = .080). Median ic-PFS was 4.7 versus 15.0 months. LC at 24 months was 94.1% (HFSRT) versus 85.4% (WBRT) (HR 0.41, P = .433). One-year OS was 63.0% (HFSRT) versus 77.8% (WBRT), with no significant difference in median OS (17.8 vs 27.0 months; HR 1.09, P = .336). One-year risk of LMD was 27.0% (HFSRT, predominantly outside the irradiated field) versus 8.7% (WBRT) (log-rank P = .03). Treatment-related adverse events were more frequent with WBRT (115 vs 54 events), including 19% versus 11% grade 3 events, and poorer neurocognitive performance.

conclusionsSurvival was similar for HFSRT and WBRT, while WBRT trended toward better ic-PFS. HFSRT showed substantially lower toxicity and better neurocognitive preservation, however, a higher risk of LMD. Risks and benefits should be weighed individually when determining post-operative treatment for BM.

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsCranial IrradiationRadiation Dose HypofractionationRadiosurgeryAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisSurvival Ratebrain metastaseshypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapymultiple brain metastasespostoperative radiotherapywhole-brain radiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID40747537
PMCPMC12916734

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.