Active clinical trials for "Astrocytoma"

This is a three parallel cohort, open-labeled, non-randomized, multicenter study. All three cohorts will enroll independently.

This pilot clinical trial compares gadobutrol with standard of care contrast agents, gadopentetate dimeglumine or gadobenate dimeglumine, before dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis, grade II-IV glioma, or tumors that have spread to the brain. Gadobutrol is a type of contrast agent that may increase DCE-MRI sensitivity for the detection of tumors or other diseases of the central nervous system. It is not yet known whether gadobutrol is more effective than standard of care contrast agents before DCE-MRI in diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis, grade II-IV glioma, or tumors that have spread to the brain.

This phase I trial studies the side effects of vaccine therapy when given together with sargramostim in treating patients with malignant glioma. Vaccines made from survivin peptide may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors, such as sargramostim, may increase the number of white blood cells and platelets found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Giving vaccine therapy and sargramostim may be a better treatment for malignant glioma.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best schedule of vaccine therapy with or without sirolimus in treating patients with cancer-testis antigen (NY-ESO-1) expressing solid tumors. Biological therapies, such as sirolimus, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Vaccines made from a person's white blood cells mixed with tumor proteins may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells that express NY-ESO-1. Infusing the vaccine directly into a lymph node may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether vaccine therapy works better when given with or without sirolimus in treating solid tumors.

The high-grade malignant brain tumors, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), comprise the majority of all primary brain tumors in adults. This group of tumors also exhibits the most aggressive behavior, resulting in median overall survival durations of only 9-12 months for GBM, and 3-4 years for AA. Initial therapy has consisted of surgical resection, external beam radiation or both. More recently, a Phase 3 clinical published by Stupp et al in 2005 showed a benefit for using radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant Temozolomide. Still, all patients experience a recurrence after first-line therapy, so improvements in both first-line and salvage therapy are critical to enhancing quality-of-life and prolonging survival. It is unknown if currently used intravenous (IV) therapies even cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Superselective Intra-arterial Cerebral Infusion (SIACI) is a technique that can effectively increase the concentration of drug delivered to the brain while sparing the body of systemic side effects. One currently used drug called Temozolomide (Temodar) has been shown to be active in human brain tumors but its actual central nervous system (CNS) penetration is unknown. This phase I clinical research trial will test the hypothesis that following the standard 42 day Temozolomide/radiotherapy regimen, Temozolomide can be safely used by direct intracranial superselective intra-arterial cerebral infusion (SIACI) up to a dose of 250mg/m2, followed by the standard maintenance cycle of temozolomide to ultimately enhance survival of patients with newly diagnosed GBM/AA. The investigators will determine the toxicity profile and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of SIACI Temozolomide. The investigators expect that this project will provide important information regarding the utility of SIACI Temozolomide therapy for malignant gliomas, and may alter the way these drugs are delivered to our patients in the near future.

This research is being done to study the safety and utility of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) (also known as Gliolan) for identifying brain tumor tissue during surgery. The goal of this study is to determine if 5-ALA can differentiate between tumor and normal brain tissue. Sometimes, during brain surgery, the removal of tumor tissue can be difficult because the tumor can look like normal brain tissue. Studies in other countries have shown that in some brain tumors, 5-ALA can make the tumors appear brighter under ultraviolet light. This may make it easier for doctors to remove as much tumor as safely as possible from your brain. This study also hopes to see if 5-ALA can find different cell populations within the tumor that is removed and allow the researchers to better understand brain tumors. The purpose of this study is to: Find out how well 5-ALA can separate normal brain tissue from tumor tissues AND to see how well 5-ALA can find different cell populations within brain tumors Identify the amount of 5-ALA that should be taken before surgery to make the tumors glow under ultraviolet light Make sure the 5-ALA identifies tumor and not normal brain Make sure 5-ALA does not cause any side effects

Phase I dose-escalation study to characterize the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of LDE225 given orally on a daily dosing schedule in children with recurrent or refractory medulloblastoma, or other tumors potentially dependent on Hedgehog signaling pathway. Phase II study is to assess preliminary efficacy in both adult and pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory MB.

This is a Phase I study of Nanoliposomal CPT-11 in patients with Recurrent high-grade gliomas. Patients must have a histologically proven intracranial malignant glioma, which includes glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), gliosarcoma (GS), anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO), anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma (AMO), or malignant astrocytoma NOS (not otherwise specified). Patients who are wild type or heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 gene will received Nanoliposomal CPT-11. The total anticipated accrual will be approximately 36 patients (depending upon the actual MTD). The investigators hypothesis is that this new formulation of CPT-11 will increase survival over that seen in historical controls who have recurrent gliomas because CPT-11 will be encapsulated in a liposome nanoparticle, which has been seen to reduce toxicities from the drug.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of temozolomide when given together with radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ABT-888 when given in combination with temozolomide in treating young patients with recurrent or refractory CNS tumors. ABT-888 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving ABT-888 together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells.