Active clinical trials for "Astrocytoma"

To assess the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab plus irinotecan for the patients with recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma or with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme

The high-grade malignant brain tumors, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), comprise the majority of all primary brain tumors in adults. This group of tumors also exhibits the most aggressive behavior, resulting in median overall survival durations of only 9-12 months for GBM, and 3-4 years for AA. Initial therapy consists of either surgical resection, external beam radiation or both. All patients experience a recurrence after first-line therapy, so improvements in both first-line and salvage therapy are critical to enhancing quality-of-life and prolonging survival. It is unknown if currently used intravenous (IV) therapies even cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). Superselective Intraarterial Cerebral Infusion (SIACI) is a technique that can effectively increase the concentration of drug delivered to the brain while sparing the body of systemic side effects. One currently used drug called, Bevacizumab (Avastin) has been shown to be active in human brain tumors but its actual CNS penetration is unknown. This phase I clinical research trial will test the hypothesis that Bevacizumab can be safely used by direct intracranial superselective intraarterial infusion up to a dose of 10mg/kg to ultimately enhance survival of patients with relapsed/refractory GBM/AA. By achieving the aims of this study we will determine the toxicity profile and maximum tolerated dose (MTD of SIACI Bevacizumab. We expect that this project will provide important information regarding the utility of SIACI Bevacizumab therapy for malignant glioma, and may alter the way these drugs are delivered to our patients in the near future.

This phase II trial studies how well sunitinib malate works in treating younger patients with recurrent, refractory, or progressive malignant glioma or ependymoma. Sunitinib malate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

This is a multicenter study evaluating the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of Toca 511, a retroviral replicating vector, injected into the resection cavity of patients with Grade III or Grade IV Gliomas who have elected to undergo surgical removal of their tumor. Approximately 6 weeks after injection of Toca 511, patients will begin an oral courses of Toca FC, an antifungal agent. These one week courses of Toca FC will be repeated during the approximately 30 week study. Two separate cohorts of patients treated with Toca 511 and Toca FC will also be evaluated with either of the following standard treatments for glioma: lomustine or bevacizumab. After completion of this study, all patients will be eligible for enrollment and encouraged to enter a long-term continuation protocol that enables additional Toca FC treatment cycles to be given, as well as permits the collection of long-term safety and survival data.

This phase I/II trial studies lapatinib to see how well it works in treating young patients with recurrent or refractory central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Lapatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth.

The purpose of this study is to find out about the safety of adding the investigational drug motexafin gadolinium to a standard course of chemotherapy with temozolomide for patients with malignant glioma. Secondly, the study will determine how many patients will respond to this treatment.

Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of erlotinib in treating patients who have recurrent malignant glioma or recurrent or progressive meningioma. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth.

Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ixabepilone and how well it works in treating patients with recurrent glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplant may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well thiotepa followed by peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplant works in treating patients with malignant glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy after surgery followed by chemotherapy alone works in children with newly diagnosed astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, gliosarcoma, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.