Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Brain Metastases From Kidney Cancer, Melanoma, or Sarcoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, or sarcoma with 1-3 newly diagnosed intraparenchymal brain metastases based on contrast-enhanced MRI (CT scan acceptable if patients have a medical contraindication to MRI)
• No lesion greater than 4.0 cm in diameter and, if multiple lesions are present, no more than one greater than 3.0 cm in diameter
• No limitation on the extent of extracranial metastatic disease
• No metastases in the brain stem, midbrain, pons, or medulla
• No leptomeningeal metastases documented by MRI or CSF evaluation
• No metastases within 10 mm of optic nerve or chiasm
• No history of multiple liver metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 8 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Not specified
• Renal:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No major medical illness
• No psychoses
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Prior chemotherapy allowed
• Systemic chemotherapy may be continued at the discretion of investigator after completion of radiosurgery
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior cranial radiotherapy
• Prior or concurrent radiotherapy to noncranial sites allowed
• Surgery:
• No prior surgical resection for brain metastases
• Prior stereotactic biopsy for diagnostic purposes allowed