Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

Primary Objective: Determine the interindividual range and median of individual maximum tolerated doses of valproic acid administered as one time evening dose in conjunction with a dose oral etoposide (50 mg/m2/day for children, but only 25mg/m2/day for adults to start) for four different age groups. Secondary Objectives: Determine the qualitative and quantitative toxicity and reversibility of toxicity of valproic acid in conjunction with oral etoposide, To investigate the clinical pharmacokinetics of valproic acid when given in conjunction with oral etoposide, To describe quality of life of patients with relapsed, or progressive central and peripheral nervous system tumors when treated with oral valproic acid and etoposide, To observe and describe the response pattern of progressive central nervous system tumors treated with oral valproic acid and etoposide, To observe and describe event free survival time and overall survival time of patients with relapsed, or progressive central nervous system tumors when treated with oral valproic acid and etoposide, To determine if histone deacetylase activity and topoisomerase expression in lymphocytes of patients is related to valproic acid levels, and To determine, if the individual maximal tolerated dose (iMTD) depends on the initial performance status of the patient in the beginning of the treatment.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the stereotactic, MR guided, laser interstitial thermal therapy treatment technique can be safety and efficiently used for human brain metastasis and primary brain tumors.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of oral Dichloroacetate (DCA) in the treatment of recurrent malignant brain tumors (RMBTs). RMBTs are defined as either: 1) malignant tumors, originating in the brain, that have recurred at least once or 2) malignant tumors originating elsewhere in the body that have spread to the brain at least once. Otherwise, there are no limitations to the number of prior recurrences. There are no limitations to the number or types of prior therapies.

Extent of resection is a very important prognostic factor affecting survival in individuals diagnosed with a malignant glioma. However, the infiltrative nature of the malignant glioma tumor cells produces indistinct borders between normal and malignant tissues, and the lack of easily identifiable tumor margins confounds attempts at total resection. The investigators propose to identify the borders of malignant gliomas intraoperatively using oral 5-aminolevulinic Acid (5-ALA) which results in fluorescence of the malignant cells and thereby provide an opportunity for more complete tumor resection. When exogenous 5-ALA is provided at increased concentration the tumor cells will become fluorescent under ultraviolet light. This feature identifies the tumor cells intraoperatively and facilitates complete resection. Data collection will include measurement of dose-limiting toxicity, tumor fluorescence, and tumor density. Data analysis will evaluate toxicity, sensitivity, and specificity of 5-ALA. Time-to-progression, one year survival rate and total survival will be measured as a function of the extent of resection. (Details below in Detailed Description.) Following completion of the phase 1 portion of this trial, an additional 15 subjects will be entered at the recommended phase 2 dose level in order to further define the above parameters at the recommended phase 2 dose level.

The aim of this Proof of Concept study is to determine the therapeutic potential of the L19SIP antibody, labeled with the radionuclide 131I in combination with external beam radiation, for the treatment of patients with multiple brain metastases following the promising results with this agent in previous clinical studies. The L19SIP antibody is a fully human antibody, capable of preferential localization around tumor blood vessels while sparing normal tissues. The formation of new blood vessels is a rare event in the adult (exception made for the female reproductive cycle), but is a pathological feature in most aggressive types of cancer. The presented study follows a Phase I and a subsequent Phase I/II dose finding and efficacy study with the same agent in patients with a variety of cancers where 131I-L19SIP had shown an excellent tolerability and therapeutic benefit for some patients enrolled in the study.

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of massage therapyto examine the effects of massage therapy to explore whether psychological outcomes are associated with changes in patient reported QoL.

This phase II trial studies how well bendamustine hydrochloride works in treating patients with anaplastic glioma or glioblastoma that has come back (recurrent) or growing, spreading or getting worse (progressive). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as bendamustine hydrochloride, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

To determine the maximum tolerated dose of ABT 510 when administered concurrent with radiation therapy for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

Hypoxia is a key factor in malignant progression of a neoplasm. It is our aim to explore the basis for quantitative in vivo tumor imaging by Cu-61 diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone)PET imaging as a surrogate of tissue hypoxia. We hypothesize that the hypoxia levels are predictive of the tumor response to therapy. Patients will have 2 CU-ATSM PET scans done and the goal is to show spatially stable tracer distributions that correlate with tumor hypoxia. This study will serve as a pilot study for a PO1 submission

To assess the response of melanoma with brain metastases to ipilimumab treatment while maintaining acceptable tolerability.