Active clinical trials for "Central Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, ifosfamide, 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 more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. An autologous peripheral stem cell transplant may be able to replace blood-forming cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy. This may allow more chemotherapy to be given so that more tumor cells are killed. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ifosfamide when given together with paclitaxel and carboplatin followed by an autologous stem cell transplant and to see how well they work in treating patients with germ cell tumors that did not respond to cisplatin.

RATIONALE: Pemetrexed disodium may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Studying samples of cerebrospinal fluid and blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn how pemetrexed disodium works in the body and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the side effects and how well pemetrexed disodium works in treating patients with leptomeningeal metastases.

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vandetanib when given together with radiation therapy in treating young patients with newly diagnosed diffuse brain stem glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, ifosfamide, and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors, such as pegfilgrastim, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well giving combination chemotherapy together with pegfilgrastim works in treating patients with previously untreated germ cell tumors.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs, such as cytochlor and tetrahydrouridine, may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of cytochlor when given together with tetrahydrouridine and external-beam radiation therapy in treating patients with cancer that has spread to the brain.

RATIONALE: ABT-888 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. 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 ABT-888 together with radiation therapy and temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ABT-888 when given together with radiation therapy and temozolomide and to see how well it works in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as arsenic trioxide and temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Arsenic trioxide and temozolomide may also make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving radiation therapy together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of arsenic trioxide when given together with temozolomide and radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.

RATIONALE: 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. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving bevacizumab together with erlotinib may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving bevacizumab together with erlotinib works after radiation therapy and temozolomide in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or gliosarcoma.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. 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 radiation therapy together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known which schedule of temozolomide when given together with radiation therapy is more effective in treating glioblastoma or gliosarcoma. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying two different schedules of temozolomide to compare how well they work when given together with radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma or gliosarcoma.

RATIONALE: Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. 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 imatinib mesylate together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of imatinib mesylate when given together with temozolomide in treating patients with malignant glioma.