Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a drug called temsirolimus in combination with a drug called perifosine in treating brain tumors that have continued to grow after previous treatment. Temsirolimus is an intravenous drug approved by the FDA for treatment of other cancers (kidney cancer, certain types of lymphoma) but not for brain tumors. Perifosine is a pill that has not been approved by the FDA which blocks a messenger that tells cancer cells to grow. Research suggests that combined treatment with both drugs is better than either alone, and that it is reasonably safe.

This study is for patients up to 21 years of age who have a tumor called a low grade glioma of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The tumor has grown despite attempts to control it with chemotherapy or radiation. Low grade gliomas are a group of tumors that tend to grow slowly and could be cured if every bit of the tumor were surgically removed. These tumors are called Grade I or II astrocytomas. These tumors often grow in parts of the brain that prevent total removal without devastating neurologic complications or death. Although some low grade gliomas never grow, most will and are treated with either chemotherapy or radiation. There is good data showing that the growth of most low grade gliomas can be controlled with chemotherapy or radiation. However, some low grade gliomas in children and young adults grow despite these treatments. Poly-ICLC is a new drug that has been used safely in children and adults with different types of brain tumors. Earlier studies showed that this drug worked better for children and young adults with low grade gliomas than for children with more aggressive brain tumors. The main purpose of this study is to use Poly-ICLC treatment in a larger number of patients to see how well it works and how many side effects occur. As Poly-ICLC is not FDA approved, this study is authorized to use it under Investigational New Drug (IND)# 43984, held by Oncovir. Subjects will get injections of Poly-ICLC into muscle two times weekly. The first treatments will be given in the clinic so allergic or other severe reactions, if any, can be monitored. If subjects tolerate the injections and don't have a severe reaction, then the rest of the injections will be given at home. Subjects/caregivers will be trained to give injections. Treatment will last for about 2 years. Subjects may stay on treatment for longer than 2 years if their tumor shrinks in response to the injections, if study doctors think it is safe, if subjects want to remain on treatment, and if Poly-ICLC is available. Risks: Poly-ICLC has been used safely in children and adults at the dose used in this study, and at higher doses. Frequently seen side effects include irritation of the skin at the injection site and mild flu-like symptoms. These are usually relieved or avoided by use of over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

RATIONALE: Bafetinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies bafetinib in treating patients with recurrent high-grade glioma or brain metastases.

This open-label study will assess the safety and efficacy of RO5185426 in previously treated metastatic melanoma patients with brain metastases. Patients will receive RO5185426 at a dose of 960 mg twice daily orally until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs.

Background: Cisplatin and carboplatin are standard cancer treatment drugs used for various childhood cancers, including brain tumors. Both drugs frequently have severe side effects that may reduce their effectiveness, particularly in children, and new treatments are needed that may be similarly effective but less toxic for cancer patients. Satraplatin is an experimental drug, similar to cisplatin and carboplatin, that has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Satraplatin has been shown to treat cancer by interfering with genetic material (DNA) in cancer cells. Some adults with cancer who have received satraplatin had slowing of the growth or shrinkage of their tumor. Researchers are interested in determining whether satraplatin can be effective for cancers that occur in children. Objectives: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of satraplatin as a treatment for children and young adults who have solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatment. To study the effects of satraplatin on the body in terms of side effects and blood chemistry. To examine the effect that genetic variations may have on the effectiveness of satraplatin. Eligibility: - Children, adolescents, and young adults between 3 and 21 years of age who have solid tumors (including brain tumors) that have not responded to standard treatment. Design: Participants will be screened with a full physical examination and medical history, blood tests, and tumor imaging studies. Participants will receive satraplatin pills to be taken every day in the morning for 5 consecutive days, with no food for 2 hours before or 1 hour after the dose. Participants will then have 23 days without the drug to complete a 28-day cycle of treatment. Participants will also receive medication to prevent nausea and vomiting 30 minutes before the first dose of satraplatin. Following the first dose of satraplatin, medication for nausea will be given if needed. Satraplatin doses will be adjusted based on response to treatment, including potential side effects. Participants will have frequent blood tests and imaging studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and monitor any side effects, as well as hearing tests and other examinations as required by the study researchers. Participants will receive satraplatin every 4 weeks for up to 2 years until serious side effects occur or the tumor stops responding to treatment.

The goal of this clinical research study is to find a safe dose of radiation that can be given to patients with brainstem glioma who have already received radiation therapy. You will receive photon radiation therapy. This type of radiation is similar to the radiation you have already had. Conformal radiotherapy or intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) will be used to try to treat the tumor while affecting as little of the surrounding normal tissue as possible.

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of GRN1005 in patients with brain metastases from breast cancer. For patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer, GRN1005 will be assessed in combination with Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) as per standard-of-care practice. In addition, this study will evaluate the ability of 18F-FLT to determine if the amount of change in the uptake in the brain metastases from breast cancer after GRN1005 treatment, correlates with intra-cranial response (for patients enrolled at NCI).

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving the drugs in different ways may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of implanted carmustine wafers in treating patients who have brain metastases and who are undergoing surgery to remove the tumor.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Gadolinium texaphyrin may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy by making tumor cells more sensitive to radiation. It is not yet known whether giving gadolinium texaphyrin with radiation therapy is more effective than radiation therapy alone in treating brain metastases. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of radiation therapy with or without gadolinium texaphyrin in treating patients who have brain metastases.

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