Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Glioma

Eligibility Criteria: Histologically confirmed diagnosis of one of the following malignant gliomas: Anaplastic astrocytoma Glioblastoma multiforme Anaplastic oligodendroglioma Malignant mixed oligoastrocytoma WHO grade III or IV disease Newly diagnosed disease Bidimensionally measurable disease by contrast-enhancing MRI Surgically accessible tumor for which resection is indicated Previously treated with or plan to undergo treatment with conventional external beam radiotherapy Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy at least 8 weeks Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times normal Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Hepatitis B negative Hepatitis C negative BUN no greater than 1.5 times normal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal HIV negative Syphilis serology negative Afebrile Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered. At least 2 weeks since prior corticosteroids At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered More than 72 hours since prior systemic antibiotics Exclusion Criteria: active infection immunodeficiency autoimmune disease that may be exacerbated by immunotherapy, including any of the following: Rheumatoid arthritis Systemic lupus erythematosus Vasculitis Polymyositis-dermatomyositis Scleroderma Multiple sclerosis Juvenile-onset insulin-dependent diabetes allergy to study agents pregnant or nursing underlying condition that would contraindicate study therapy concurrent severe or unstable medical condition that would preclude giving informed consent psychiatric condition that would preclude study participation or giving informed consent other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix concurrent chemotherapy during and for 2 weeks after administration of study vaccine concurrent corticosteroids prior organ allograft antihistamine therapy within 5 days before or after administration of study vaccine other concurrent investigational agents concurrent adjuvant therapy during and for 2 weeks after administration of study vaccine