Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

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. Vaccines may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies, such as basiliximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether giving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and vaccine therapy together with basiliximab is a more effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme than chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and vaccine therapy alone. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I trial is studying the side effects and best way to give chemotherapy and radiation therapy followed by vaccine therapy with basiliximab in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme that has been removed by surgery.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether temozolomide can be used as a prophylaxis against brain recurrence in participants with metastatic breast cancer.

Objectives: Primary - Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and evaluate the dose limiting toxicities (DLT) of combining lapatinib and temozolomideSecondary - Obtain preliminary information on the clinical anti-tumor activity of lapatinib plus temozolomide on brain metastases secondary to HER-2 positive breast cancer including Objective Response Rate (ORR), Clinical Benefit (CB) and Duration of Response (DR) Methodology: Phase I, single-centre, open-label, dose-escalation study of combining lapatinib and temozolomide in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients with progressive brain metastases after surgery or radiotherapy or radiosurgery Treatment: Temozolomide will be given orally for 5 days of every 28 days, at doses of either 100mg/m2/day or 150mg/m2/day or 200mg/m2/day AND Lapatinib will be given orally every day at either 1000mg/day or 1250mg/day or 1500mg/day.Sequential cohorts will be escalated in increments according to the dose escalation scheme, and determined by dose limiting toxicities.

This Phase I clinical trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ABT-888 when given together with Whole Brain Radiation Therapy (WBRT) in treating patients with brain metastases.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of 6-Thioguanine, Xeloda (capecitabine), and Celebrex (celecoxib) with Temodar (temozolomide) or Lomustine (CCNU) is effective in the treatment of recurrent or progressive anaplastic glioma or glioblastoma multiforme in patients who have failed previous treatments. The safety of these combination treatment will also be studied. Objectives: 1.1 To determine the efficacy, as measured by 12 month progression-free survival, of TEMOZOLOMIDE or CCNU with 6-THIOGUANINE followed by CAPECITABINE and CELECOXIB in the treatment of patients with recurrent and/or progressive anaplastic gliomas or glioblastoma multiforme. 1.2 To determine the long-term toxicity of TEMOZOLOMIDE or CCNU with 6-THIOGUANINE followed by CAPECITABINE and CELECOXIB in recurrent anaplastic glioma or glioblastoma multiforme patients treated in this manner. 1.3 To determine the clinical relevance of genetic subtyping tumors as a predictor of response to this chemotherapy and long term survival

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Brain metastases manifest as the first site of disease failure in between 15-30% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The standard treatment for patients with multiple brain metastases is whole brain radiotherapy but this results in only a modest survival of 3-6 months. Drugs that can enhance the effect of cranial irradiation (radiosensitizers) may improve the the response rates. Erlotinib (Tarceva) is an oral agent that has been registered for treatment in patients with metastatic NSCLC. Erlotinib has shown tumor activity in patients presenting with brain metastases, and preclinical studies show that it may be a radiosensitizer. As a prelude to studies investigating the combination of Erlotinib and cranial radiotherapy, the present study will be performed to evaluate the safety of combining both these treatments.

A significant number of brain tumor patients who received radiation or chemotherapy have thinking problems as a result of their treatment. The purpose of this study is to find out if treatment with Aricept (donepezil) may improve some aspects of thinking abilities in patients with brain tumors who received radiation or chemotherapy. This research will also study whether persons having particular genes for a blood-borne substance called apolipoprotein E (APOE) are more likely to have thinking problems after radiation or chemotherapy treatment for their brain tumors. The findings of this study will help us find out whether Aricept can improve thinking abilities after cancer treatment, and whether some of the thinking difficulties may be in part related to having certain genes.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of Avastin (bevacizumab) and Tykerb (lapatinib) can help to control ependymoma in pediatric patients. The safety of this drug combination will also be studied.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if lapatinib when given in combination with temozolomide can help to control ependymoma that has come back after treatment. The safety of this combination will also be studied.

This randomized phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well giving bevacizumab together with irinotecan or temozolomide works in treating patients with recurrent or refractory glioblastoma multiforme or gliosarcoma. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as irinotecan and temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving bevacizumab together with irinotecan or temozolomide may kill more tumor cells.