Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Children With Astrocytomas and Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors
Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors focused on measuring childhood infratentorial ependymoma, childhood low-grade cerebral astrocytoma, childhood low-grade cerebellar astrocytoma, childhood supratentorial ependymoma, childhood high-grade cerebral astrocytoma, untreated childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor, untreated childhood cerebellar astrocytoma, untreated childhood medulloblastoma, untreated childhood visual pathway and hypothalamic glioma, newly diagnosed childhood ependymoma
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven previously untreated (except surgically) primitive neuroectodermal tumors (including medulloblastoma, anaplastic ependymoma, ependymoblastoma, or pineoblastoma) or high-grade astrocytomas Low-grade astrocytomas or optic tract tumors that are incompletely resected and have a progressive course not amenable to further surgery may also be allowed Evaluable disease by MRI, CT scan, or CT myelography PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 4 years Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3 WBC greater than 4,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL SGPT less than 90 IU/dL Renal: Creatinine clearance greater than 80 mL/min PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) No prior high-dose methotrexate No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: Recovered from acute toxic effects of any prior therapy Must be on a tyramine-free diet during procarbazine administration
Sites / Locations
- University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Combination Chemotherapy
Methotrexate, Mechlorethamine, Vincristine, Prednisone, and Procarbazine