BR02
A Medical Research Council Study of Two Radiotherapy Dose Regimens for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Malignant Gliomas Grades III and IV
Comparing two different doses of radiotherapy for people with a brain tumour
What was this study about?
The BR02 trial aimed to test how well two different doses of radiotherapy worked to treat people with a brain tumour called a malignant glioma. Half of the patients were given 4 weeks of treatment and the other half received 6 weeks of treatment.
What difference did this study make?
The results of this trial suggested that the higher level of radiotherapy (60 Gy) was more effective than the lower dose (45 Gy) to treat people with this type of brain cancer.
Patients who received the higher dose of radiotherapy lived longer than those who received the lower dose. This meant that the higher dose became standard treatment for patients with this type of brain tumour.
Type of study
Randomised trial
Contact details
Who funded the study?
The Medical Research Council.
When did it take place?
This trial began recruiting people in 1983. It closed in 1988. The results of this trial were published in 1992.
Where did it take place?
15 centres in the UK and one in South Africa.
Who was included?
474 people with a malignant glioma took part in the study.