Active clinical trials for "Central Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Hyperbaric oxygen may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Combining hyperbaric oxygen with radiation therapy may be an effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combining radiation therapy with hyperbaric oxygen in treating patients who have newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: New imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging may improve the ability to determine the growth rate of progressive astrocytoma. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging in treating children who have progressive low-grade astrocytoma.

Many pediatric brain and solid tumors have altered epigenetic landscapes, and altered DNA methylation. As such this study is a Phase I/Ib study of combined 5'Azacitidine with an escalating dose of carboplatin for all recurrent/refractory pediatric brain and solid tumors. The phase I component will establish with maximum tolerated dose of carboplatin with azacytidine. An expansion cohort will be recruited of up to 30 patients will follow consisting of 20 recurrent posterior fossa ependymoma and 10 recurrent supratentorial ependymoma.

RATIONALE: Enzastaurin may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. 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. Giving enzastaurin together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of enzastaurin when given together with temozolomide in treating patients with primary gliomas.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood in the laboratory from patients receiving temozolomide may help doctors learn how temozolomide works in the body. It may also help doctors learn more about how a patient's genes may affect the risk of developing thrombocytopenia. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the pharmacokinetics in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma receiving temozolomide and radiation therapy.

RATIONALE: New imaging procedures, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, may improve the ability to detect the extent of cancer in the brain. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of functional magnetic resonance imaging and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in treating patients who have newly diagnosed brain tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of carmustine followed by surgery in treating patients who have recurrent supratentorial malignant glioma or metastatic brain neoplasm.

RATIONALE: IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL immunotoxin may locate tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. This may be an effective treatment for recurrent malignant astrocytoma. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL immunotoxin in treating patients who have recurrent malignant astrocytoma.

The prognosis of children and adolescents with high risk tumors of the central nervous system and other miscellaneous solid tumors is poor despite modern treatment protocols. Frequently, physicians suggest additional therapy with high dose chemotherapy after a good initial response to standard doses of treatment has been obtained, so as to reduce the chance that the tumor will recur. We propose a regimen of high dose thiotepa and melphalan followed by rescue of the patient's previously stored hematopoietic (blood manufacturing) system with blood stem cells. The aim of this study is to prove that this therapy is tolerable in children and adolescents, that it results in tolerable levels of toxicity, and that it improves the survival of this group of children as compared to standard therapy given in the past

RATIONALE: CT-322 may stop the growth of glioblastoma multiforme by blocking blood flow to the tumor. 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. Giving CT-322 together with irinotecan may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase 2 trial is studying the side effects, tolerability, and efficacy of CT-322 when given alone and in combination with irinotecan to patients with glioblastoma multiforme.