QUARTZ

Quality of life after treatment of brain metastases

Does radiotherapy improve patient’s quality of life when lung cancer has spread to the brain?

What is this study about?

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. In about a quarter of these patients, the cancer will spread to the brain. Currently the standard treatment for people with this condition is steroids and a course of radiotherapy to the brain. However, there is little evidence to suggest that the radiotherapy will improve a patient’s quality of life or length of survival. QUARTZ is a randomised controlled trial which aims to find whether giving brain radiotherapy adds anything to steroids and supportive care. The trial will compare symptoms, side effects, quality of life and survival in patients who have radiotherapy with those who do not. All patients will receive steroids and the best supportive care currently available. This trial will help us to find the best way to treat patients whose lung cancer has spread to the brain in the future.