Phenylbutyrate to Treat Children With Progressive or Recurrent Brain Tumors

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Age: Patients must be between 2 and 21 years old. Histologic diagnosis: Previously treated brain tumor patients with any histologic diagnosis who have recurrent or progressive disease after radiation or chemotherapy, including bone marrow transplant. For patients with brainstem tumors the requirement for histologic verification may be waived. However, for patients with brainstem tumors treated with hyperfractionated radiotherapy a biopsy, a PET scan or NMR spectroscopy is strongly recommended prior to study entry to rule out radionecrosis as a possible cause of MRI changes. A biopsy, PET scan, or NMR spectroscopy is required for patients treated with radiosurgery prior to study entry. Phenylbutyrate will be studied within each of the following disease strata as defined by the initial tumor histology: High grade glioma (anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme) Brainstem glioma Medulloblastoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) present in the supratentorial or posterior fossa locations. Other Radiologic evaluation: (must be obtained within two weeks prior to starting therapy) Patients must have a CT or MRI imaging studies documenting the measurable lesion(s) that clearly demonstrates the recurrent or progressive nature of the lesion(s). Recovery from prior therapy: Patients must have recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiotherapy prior to entering this study and must be without significant systemic illness (e.g. Infection). Patients must not have received myelosuppressive chemotherapy within 3 weeks (six weeks if prior nitrosourea) of entry onto this protocol. Evaluable lesions must not have had any radiotherapy within 8 weeks, or radiosurgery within 4 months of the start of this protocol. Patients receiving dexamethasone must be on a stable or decreasing dose during the 2 weeks prior to study entry. Life Expectancy: Patients must have a life expectancy of at least 8 weeks. Performance status: For patients older than or equal to 10 years the Karnofsky performance score must be 50 percent or greater. For children younger than 10 years, the Lansky score must be 50 percent or greater. Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheel chair will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of calculating the performance score. Informed consent: All patients or their legal guardians (if the patient is younger than 18 years of age) must sign a document of informed consent indicating their awareness of the investigational nature and the risks of this study. When appropriate the patient will be included in all discussions in order to obtain verbal assent. Hematological parameters: (must be obtained within 1 week prior to starting therapy). Patients must have adequate bone marrow function (ANC greater than 1,000/mm(3); platelet count greater than 50,000/mm(3); hgb greater than 8.0 mg/dL). Patients with histologic evidence of bone marrow involvement by tumor, or a history of either bone marrow transplantation or extensive radiotherapy (craniospinal XRT or field encompassing a region greater than the hemipelvis) will be eligible and for the study but will be evaluated separately for hematologic toxicity. Transfusion support may be used to obtain hematologic parameters in such patients. Biochemical parameters: Hepatic Function: Patients must have a bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dl and SGPT less than 2x normal. Renal Function: Patients must have an age-adjusted normal serum creatinine (see below) or a creatinine clearance of 70 mL/min/1.73m(2) or greater. ____________________________________________ Age (Years) Maximum Serum Creatinine (mg/dl) ____________________________________________ 5 or greater 0.8 Between 5 and 10 1.0 Between 10 and 15 1.2 Greater than 15 1.5 ____________________________________________ Electrolytes: Patients must have normal serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-, CO2). Note: They may be receiving electrolyte supplements to maintain their electrolytes in the normal range. Central venous access: Patients must be willing to have a central venous access device (e.g. Broviac or Hickman or Port-a-Cath). An external central venous access device is preferable. Durable Power of Attorney (DPA): A DPA must be offered to all patients 18 - 21 years of age. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant or lactating. Patients with significant systemic illness. Patients with amino acidurias or organic acidemias.