Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

This phase II trial studies how well dasatinib works in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme or gliosarcoma that has come back. Dasatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

For patients who have one or two metastases in the brain, the tumor(s) can often be removed with surgery to relieve symptoms from the tumor(s) and to improve survival. However, about half of all patients who have the tumor(s) removed with surgery will develop regrowth (recurrence) of the tumor. To prevent this regrowth of tumor, some patients receive radiation to the entire brain (whole brain radiation) after surgery. This involves daily treatment for about two to three weeks, and may cause long-term neurological problems, such as memory loss. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is sometimes used instead of surgery to treat brain metastasis. This involves the use of a special head frame and sophisticated computer programs that enable us to deliver a high dose of radiation to a small focused area of the brain in only one treatment. Research has shown that the results of treatment with SRS are as good as surgical removal of the tumor. SRS and surgical resection are considered the standard options for the treatment of brain metastases. This Phase II clinical trial is studying the combination of these two techniques. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of SRS following surgical removal of brain metastases. The outcomes we will be looking at are tumor regrowth after treatment and side effects of treatment.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as irinotecan, 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. Irinotecan may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving irinotecan together with whole-brain radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of irinotecan when given together with whole-brain radiation therapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with brain metastases from solid tumors. (The study of side effects and best dose has ended as of 4/15/05)

The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term safety and tolerability of human corticotropin-releasing factor (hCRF), XERECEPT®, in patients requiring dexamethasone (Decadron) to treat peritumoral brain edema. This open-label, extended-use study is open to all patients who participate in either of the blinded studies, NTI 0302, NTI 0303, or other designated studies, including patients who may have discontinued blinded study medication early but completed the protocol-stipulated follow-up periods.

The standard treatment for children with brain tumors is surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiation to the brain and chemotherapy (medicines) given to shrink any remaining tumor or to prevent tumor from growing back. There are very few treatment options available for children whose brain tumor grows back after receiving radiation treatment. There is a greater risk of complications and side effects when the brain is repeatedly treated with external radiation. The side effects of repeat radiation treatment are dependent on the amount of the brain that is radiated. Radiation given with PRS during surgery is focused to the specific area of the brain where the tumor is located. Therefore, the area of the brain affected by the radiation is smaller. It is hoped that this targeted radiation will lessen the side effects to the normal brain that is not affected by the tumor. It is also hoped that a lower occurrence of side effects will increase the quality of life of children with brain tumors. The optimal dose of targeted radiation is not known. Therefore, increasing doses will be given to treat different patients, starting with the lowest possible dose. The amount of radiation to be given will depend on whether or not your child received prior radiation therapy and where the tumor is located. The groups of patients will first be divided into 2 groups: Group A, who are those who received radiation as part of their prior treatment, and Group B, who are those who did not receive any radiation treatment. Each group will be then divided again into 2 groups depending on the location of the tumor. In each group, if the lowest dose is well-tolerated with only minimal side effects by 3 patients, then the next higher dose will be given to the next 3 patients. The purposes of this research are: To evaluate the potential side effects of a single high dose of x-rays using the Photon Radiosurgery System (PRS) given to a small area of the brain. To determine the maximum dose of targeted radiation that can be safely given to brain tumors with the fewest side effects. To see how well this treatment works for children with recurrent brain tumors and newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

The aim of this study is to evaluate non-inferiority of salvage stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in the patients who received surgical resection for brain metastases in comparison with postoperative whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT).

RATIONALE: Talabostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving talabostat together with temozolomide or carboplatin may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of talabostat when given together with temozolomide or carboplatin in treating young patients with relapsed or refractory brain tumors or other solid tumors.

Background: Radiation therapy with temozolomide (an anti-cancer drug) is standard therapy for treating brain tumors called glioblastomas. The drug valproic acid, currently approved for treating seizures, has been shown in laboratory tests to increase the radiosensitivity of glioma cells. Objectives: -To determine the effectiveness of adding valproic acid to standard treatment with radiation therapy and temozolomide for treating glioblastoma. Eligibility: -Patients 18 years of age and older with glioblastoma multiforme who have not been previously treated with chemotherapy of radiation. Design: This Phase II trial will enroll 41 patients. Patients will receive radiation therapy to the brain once a day, Monday through Friday, for 6 1/2 weeks. Patients will take temozolomide once a day by mouth, Monday through Friday, during the period of radiation treatment. Starting 4 weeks after radiation therapy, patients will take temozolomide once a day for 5 days every 28 days for a total of six cycles. Patients will receive valproic acid by mouth twice a day beginning 1 week prior to the first day of radiation therapy and continuing until the completion of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Patients will have follow-up visits 1 month after completing therapy, then every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 3 years. Follow-up includes a physical examination, blood tests and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest safe dose of lomustine (CCNU, CeeNUTM) that can be given with temozolomide (TemodarTM) and thalidomide (ThalomidTM) in the treatment of metastatic melanoma that has spread to the brain. The safety and effectiveness of this combination therapy will also be studied.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study is to determine if chemotherapy with carboplatin and temozolomide significantly affects the response rates, or size of disease, in patients with brain metastases, originating from cancer in other parts of the body, compared to patients who have already been treated with radiation. Survival, causes of death, recurrence of disease in the central nervous system, toxicity, and quality of life will all be measured as secondary objective in this study.