Brain radiation showdown: proton vs. photon – which saves your mind?
NCT ID NCT03180502
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compares two radiation methods—proton beam and photon beam (IMRT)—in 120 people with slow-growing brain tumors (IDH-mutant gliomas). The goal is to see which better preserves memory and thinking over time. Participants are randomly assigned to one type of radiation and tracked for up to 10 years.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Proton beam radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (photon therapy)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show that proton therapy better preserves memory and thinking skills in brain tumor patients compared to standard radiation.
What could go wrong
This is a phase 2 trial with only 120 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study is active but not recruiting, and long-term outcomes are still being tracked.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Boca Raton Regional Hospital
Boca Raton, Florida, 33486, United States
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Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
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Central Maryland Radiation Oncology in Howard County
Columbia, Maryland, 21044, United States
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Emory Proton Therapy Center
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Emory University Hospital Midtown
Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
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Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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FHCC at Northwest Hospital
Seattle, Washington, 98133, United States
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Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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MaineHealth Maine Medical Center- Scarborough
Scarborough, Maine, 04074, United States
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Maryland Proton Treatment Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
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Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
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Mercy Hospital Springfield
Springfield, Missouri, 65804, United States
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Miami Cancer Institute
Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
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Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Delnor
Geneva, Illinois, 60134, United States
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Northwestern Medicine Cancer Center Warrenville
Warrenville, Illinois, 60555, United States
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center/Tate Cancer Center
Glen Burnie, Maryland, 21061, United States
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UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center
Bel Air, Maryland, 21014, United States
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UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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University Hospitals Parma Medical Center
Parma, Ohio, 44129, United States
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University Hospitals Portage Medical Center
Ravenna, Ohio, 44266, United States
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University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center
Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
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University of Kansas Cancer Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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University of Kansas Cancer Center - Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, Missouri, 64064, United States
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University of Kansas Cancer Center - North
Kansas City, Missouri, 64154, United States
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University of Kansas Cancer Center at North Kansas City Hospital
North Kansas City, Missouri, 64116, United States
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University of Kansas Cancer Center-Overland Park
Overland Park, Kansas, 66210, United States
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University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center
Westwood, Kansas, 66205, United States
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University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake
Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
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Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States