Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

The goals of this study are to evaluate each of the following items: Time to recurrence in patients receiving brachytherapy with the GliaSite RTS Overall survival (OS) in patients with malignant brain tumors who are undergoing surgical resection and brachytherapy treatment with the GliaSite® Radiation Therapy System (RTS). Incidence of serious adverse events in patients treated with GliaSite RTS

Purpose of the study: Primary Objective: Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of MR1-1KDEL when delivered intracerebrally by convection-enhanced delivery (CED) in patients with supratentorial malignant brain tumors. Secondary Objective: Document any radiographic responses associated with intracerebral CED of MR1-1KDEL. Hypothesis: The investigators believe that MR1-1KDEL will be an effective anti-tumor agent for patients with supratentorial malignant brain tumors when delivered by CED. Design & procedures: This protocol is designed primarily to determine the MTD and DLT of a novel, tumor-specific immunotoxin, MR1-1KDEL. MR1-1KDEL will be delivered intracerebrally by CED using 2 intracerebral catheters with at least one catheter placed within the enhancing portion of the tumor. 124I-labeled albumin will be co-infused with gadolinium and PET and MRI images will be obtained at the conclusion of the infusion to monitor volume of drug distribution and leakage into the CSF space. Based on preclinical toxicity studies, the starting total drug dose will be 0.5μg (500ng) which represents 1/20th of the MTD in rats. The infusion flow rate will be fixed at 0.5 mL/h from each of two to four catheters. A total of 144 mLs of drug solution will be delivered over 72 hours. MR1-1KDEL dose escalation will be accomplished by increasing drug concentration allowing flow rate and infusion volume to remain unchanged. Drug dose will be doubled in successive cohorts so long as DLTs are not observed as follows: 25 ng/mL (2.4 μg)(starting dose); 50ng/mL (4.8μg); 100 ng/mL (9.6μg); 200ng/mL (19.2μg); 400 ng/mL (38.4μg); 800 ng/mL (76.8μg); and 1600 ng/mL (153.6μg). At least 3 patients will be enrolled in each cohort. All patients in a given cohort will be observed for at least two weeks following infusion of the study drug before patients in the next cohort are treated. If no patients in a given cohort experience a DLT, the dose will be escalated in the next cohort. If 1 out of 3 patients in a given cohort experience DLT, 3 additional patients will be entered in that cohort. If 2 patients develop a DLT in any cohort of 3 or 6 patients, the previous dose will be declared the MTD. Patients will be followed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 month intervals for toxicity and adverse events, radiographic response, and survival. Patients will be off study when progressive disease is documented. Risk/benefit assessment: This is an experimental study and unforeseeable or unexpected risks may be involved.

This is a randomized, Phase II study designed to investigate Nimotuzumab plus whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT)and to compare it rith WBRT alone in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy of nimotuzumab in combination with WBRT.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether RTA 744 is effective in the treatment of breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.

The prodrug, 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), has been shown to lead to intracellular accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins in high grade malignant gliomas in the brain. On imaging, this accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins helps delineate tumor borders, resulting in the surgeon being better able to visualize and thus able to make a complete, or near-complete resection of the tumor.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Pegylated interferon alfa-2a may interfere with the growth of tumor cells. Giving capecitabine together with pegylated interferon alfa-2a may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving capecitabine together with pegylated interferon alfa-2a works in treating patients with recurrent or progressive brain metastases due to breast cancer.

It is of interest to determine whether COX-2 inhibitors given with radiation therapy can prolong the progression-free survival in brain stem glioma. Diffuse pontine brainstem gliomas are more common in children, but are also seen in adults. However, the use of commercially available COX-2 inhibitors has not been evaluated in the pediatric population and the proper dosing in pediatrics is unknown. Therefore a Phase I study will need to be conducted as a first step. Rofecoxib is an FDA approved COX-2 inhibitor for use in adults. This phase I study is designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of Rofecoxib given concurrently with standard radiation therapy for diffuse pontine brainstem glioma.

RATIONALE: Current therapies for children with primary malignant brain tumors provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of children with primary malignant brain tumors. PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on children with primary malignant brain tumors.

This research study involves an investigational product: Ad-RTS-hIL-12 given with veledimex for production of human IL-12. IL-12 is a protein that can improve the body's natural response to disease by enhancing the ability of the immune system to kill tumor cells and may interfere with blood flow to the tumor. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a single tumor injection of Ad-RTS-hIL-12 given with oral veledimex in the pediatric population.

Background: Sometimes breast cancer spreads (metastasizes) to the brain. Researchers want to study new treatments for brain metastases. The drug Temozolomide is approved to treat brain tumors. Researchers want to see if combining it with the drug trastuzumab emtansine (T-DMI) prevents the formation of new metastases in the brain. Objective: To study if Temozolomide with T-DM1 lowers the chance of having new metastases in the brain. Eligibility: Adults at least 18 years old with a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain and was recently treated with stereotactic radiation or surgery. Design: Participants will be screened with Medical history Physical exam Heart tests A scan (computed tomography (CT) that makes a picture of the body using a small amount of radiation A scan (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that uses a magnetic field to make an image of the brain Blood tests. Pregnancy test. The study will be done in 3-week cycles. All participants will get T-DM1 on Day 1 of every cycle through a small plastic tube inserted in an arm vein. Some participants will also take Temozolomide capsules by mouth every day. Participants will keep a medication diary. During the study, participants will also: Repeat most of the screening tests. Answer questions about their general well-being and functioning. Participants will have lumbar puncture at least 2 times. A needle is inserted into the spinal canal low in the back and cerebrospinal fluid is collected. This will be done with local anesthesia and with the help of images. Participants will be asked to provide tumor samples when available. Participants will have a follow-up visit about 1 month after stopping the study drug. They will be contacted by telephone or email every 3 months after that.