Active clinical trials for "Astrocytoma"

This phase I clinical trial is studying the side effects and best dose of giving gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097 and cediranib maleate together in treating patients with advanced solid tumors. Gamma-secretase inhibitor RO4929097 and cediranib maleate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Cediranib maleate also may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor.

The purpose of this research study is to learn if the study drug RAD001 can shrink or slow the growth of low-grade gliomas. Additionally, the safety of RAD001 will be studied. RAD001 is a drug that may act directly on tumor cells by inhibiting tumor cell growth and proliferation.

Currently, there are few effective treatments for the following aggressive brain tumors: glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, gliomatosis cerebri, gliosarcoma, or brainstem glioma. Surgery and radiation can generally slow down these aggressive brain tumors, but in the majority of patients, these tumors will start growing again in 6-12 months. Adding chemotherapy drugs to surgery and radiation does not clearly improve the cure rate of children with malignant gliomas. The investigators are conducting this study to see if the combination of valproic acid and bevacizumab (also known as AvastinTM) with surgery and radiation will shrink these brain tumors more effectively and improve the chance of cure.

Background: The optimal treatment of anaplastic gliomas is controversial. Standard of care in most centers is still radiotherapy. This phase III study compared the efficacy and safety of radiotherapy vs chemotherapy in patients (pts) with newly-diagnosed, supratentorial gliomas of WHO grade III. Methods: Pts were randomized 2:1:1 between June 1999 and February 2005 in 34 German centers to receive (i) a 6-week course of radiotherapy (1,8-2 Gy fractions, total dose 54-60 Gy) or (ii) four 6-week cycles of CCNU at 110 mg mg/m2 on day 1, vincristine at 2 mg on days 8 and 29 and procarbazine at 60 mg/m2 on days 8-21 or eight 4-week cycles of 200 mg/m2 temozolomide on days 1-5. Treatment was stopped prematurely at disease progression or occurrence of unacceptable toxicity. At this time or at disease progression, treatment in the radiotherapy group was continued with one of the chemotherapies (1:1 randomization) and with radiotherapy in both chemotherapy groups. The primary endpoint was time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) defined as progression after radiotherapy and one chemotherapy in either sequence, or any time before if further therapy could not be employed. Assuming a 50% improvement in TTF of starting with chemotherapy, 318 pts were to be enrolled to provide 80% power to achieve statistical significance at a one-sided level of 0.05.

In this multinational dose finding Phase IIb study the efficacy and safety of two doses of AP 12009 compared to standard chemotherapy (temozolomide or PCV) is investigated in adult patients with confirmed recurrent high-grade glioma.

Objectives: To determine maximum tolerated dose of farnesyl transferase inhibitor, SCH 66336, when administered w TEMODAR®. To characterize any toxicity associated w combo of farnesyl transferase inhibitor, SCH 66336, & TEMODAR®. To observe patients for clinical antitumor response when treated with combination of farnesyl transferase inhibitor, SCH 66336, & TEMODAR®. To assess pharmacokinetics of SCH 66336 for patients on & not on enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs.

Phase 2 trial to explore the efficacy and safety of irinotecan (CPT-11). Also administered at each cycle was zofran/Kytril/Anzemet, decadron, and IV atropine. At each cycle, patient exams and interviews as well as lab results were to help the research team to determine the symptomatic side effects of the treatment. Recorded past toxicities were to be compared with current side effects.

Rationale: Standard therapy for anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and mixed oligoastrocytomas includes radiation and chemotherapy. However, due to the potential long-term central nervous system toxicity from radiation, researchers speculate that it may be better to reserve radiation therapy for progressive disease. In addition, some patients with anaplastic oligodendroglioma and mixed oligoastrocytoma have unusually chemosensitive tumors. Previous research indicates that brain tumor patients with a deletion of the 1p chromosome have a higher response to the chemotherapy drug temozolomide.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of lenalidomide in treating young patients with recurrent, progressive, or refractory CNS tumors. Lenalidomide may stop the growth of CNS tumors by blocking blood flow to the tumor. It may also stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects of fluorine F18 EF5 when given during positron emission tomography to find oxygen in tumor cells of patients who are undergoing surgery or biopsy for newly diagnosed brain tumors. Diagnostic procedures using fluorine F 18 EF5 and positron emission tomography to detect tumor hypoxia may help in planning cancer treatment