PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:~I. To determine if the time to composite adverse endpoint (CAE) (defined as: 1) local tumor progression within the surgical bed; and/or 2) Adverse Radiation Effect (ARE), the imaging correlate of post-stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) radiation necrosis; and/or 3) nodular meningeal disease (nMD) is improved in patients treated with pre-resection SRS to the intact lesion versus those treated with post-resection SRS.~SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:~I. To assess the trajectory of symptom burden in patients treated with pre-resection SRS to the intact lesion versus those treated to the post-resection surgical cavity as measured by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for brain tumor (MDASI-BT) II. To determine whether there is improved overall survival (OS) in patients with resected brain metastases who undergo pre-resection SRS compared to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~III. To compare rates of ARE, the imaging correlate of radiation necrosis, in patients who receive pre-resection SRS to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~IV. To determine whether there is increased time to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in patients who receive pre-resection SRS compared to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~V. To assess the trajectory of neuro-cognitive function in patients treated with pre-resection SRS to the intact lesion versus those treated to the post-resection surgical cavity as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).~VI. To compare rates of nodular meningeal disease in patients who receive pre-resection SRS to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~VII. To compare rates of local recurrence in the resection cavity for patients who receive pre-resection SRS to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~VIII. To compare rates of local recurrence of intact, non-index metastases treated with SRS.~IX. To compare rates of distant brain failure in patients who receive pre-resection SRS to patients who receive post-resection SRS.~X. To assess toxicity in the two treatment arms.~EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:~I. To explore if the type of surgical resection (piece-meal versus [vs.] en-bloc) may be associated with the rate of nodular meningeal disease.~OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.~ARM I: Patients undergo surgery per standard of care. Within 10-30 days after surgery, patients undergo stereotactic radiosurgery for 1 fraction.~ARM II: Within 7 days before surgery, patients undergo stereotactic radiosurgery for 1 fraction. Patients undergo surgery per standard of care.~After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 2 years.
This phase III trial compares the addition of stereotactic radiosurgery before or after surgery in treating patients with cancer that has spread to the brain (brain metastases). Stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation only to the small areas of cancer in the brain and avoids the surrounding normal brain tissue. Surgery and radiation may stop the tumor from growing for a few months or longer and may reduce symptoms of brain metastases.