Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42763407›Full record

ArticleRespiratory research2026

Prophylactic cranial irradiation versus active MRI surveillance for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer achieving response after chemoradiotherapy: a protocol for a randomized, controlled, multicenter, phase III trial.

Zhonghui Wei, Yu Chen, Jinming Yu, Xiangjiao Meng

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Respiratory research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04829708 (Efficacy and Safety of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation Versus MRI Surveillance in Patients With Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Achieved Remission After First-line Chemoradiotherapy), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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.

NCT04829708 phase3recruitingnot on this map

Efficacy and Safety of Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation Versus MRI Surveillance in Patients With Limited-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Achieved Remission After First-line Chemoradiotherapy: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Phase III Clinical Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorShandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteRan2021 to 2028Enrolled534ConditionsLimited Stage Small Cell Lung CancerArmsMRI Surveillance, Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Zhonghui Wei *Cancer Center, Shandong University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yu Chen *Cancer Center, Shandong University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Jinming YuCancer Center, Shandong University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China. sdyujinming@126.com.
Xiangjiao MengCancer Center, Shandong University, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China. mengxj@sd-cancer.com.

Funding

Collaborative Academic Innovation Project of Shandong Cancer Hospital ZF003Foundation of Shandong Provincial Medical Association YXH2024ZS007National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272845, 82030082Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province ZR2023ZD26, ZR2023LZL001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProphylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is the standard preventive strategy for limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). However, the evidence supporting this strategy is largely based on the pre-MRI era. With the advancement of modern MRI and treatment techniques, the survival benefit of PCI remains unclear, particularly given the potential for neurocognitive toxicity to impair quality of life. This study aims to re-evaluate the value of PCI in contemporary LS-SCLC patients and investigate whether active MRI surveillance is non-inferior to PCI regarding overall survival (OS).

methodsThis is a prospective, randomized, multicenter, phase III trial, enrolling patients with LS-SCLC who achieve complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) after platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either PCI or active MRI surveillance. The primary endpoint is OS. Secondary endpoints include 1- and 3-year OS rates, progression-free survival (PFS), brain metastasis rate, and neurocognitive function. Exploratory analyses will integrate clinical characteristics with the longitudinal kinetics of tumor biomarkers in collected peripheral blood to identify patient subgroups who are more likely to benefit from PCI. DISCUSSION: This study will re-evaluate the role of PCI in the MRI era for LS-SCLC. If active MRI surveillance proves non-inferior, it may provide evidence supporting a less intensive management approach that could potentially reduce treatment-related neurotoxicity and preserve quality of life. Furthermore, our trial aims to identify patient subgroups that derive a clinical benefit from PCI, and leverage serial biomarker dynamics to guide personalized clinical management for LS-SCLC patients.

trial registrationThis trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04829708).

Indexed as

Brain NeoplasmsChemoradiotherapyCranial IrradiationLung NeoplasmsMagnetic Resonance ImagingSmall Cell Lung CarcinomaWatchful WaitingClinical Trials, Phase III as TopicFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMulticenter Studies as TopicNeoplasm StagingProspective StudiesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicLimited-stage small-cell lung cancerMagnetic resonance imagingNeurocognitive functionOverall survivalProphylactic cranial irradiationRandomized controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID42763407
PMCPMC13589365

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Registered trials

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.