Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Immunotoxins can locate tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. Immunotoxin therapy may be effective in treating malignant glioma. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of immunotoxin therapy before and after surgery in treating patients who have recurrent malignant glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of intrathecal or intraventricular topotecan in treating recurrent, progressive, or refractory cancer that is metastatic to the lining around the brain.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: : Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of gallium nitrate in young patients who have malignant brain tumors, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, or refractory solid tumor.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation may be able to replace immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy used to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme or brain stem tumors.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of pomalidomide in treating younger patients with tumors of the brain or spine (central nervous system) that have come back or are continuing to grow. Pomalidomide may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread and may also stimulate the immune system to kill tumor cells.

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of entinostat in treating pediatric patients with solid tumors that have come back or have not responded to treatment. Entinostat may block some of the enzymes needed for cell division and it may help to kill tumor cells.

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. 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. It is not yet known whether temozolomide is more effective when given with or without bevacizumab in treating patients with recurrent glioma. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well temozolomide works with or without bevacizumab in treating patients with recurrent glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, busulfan, and O6-benzylguanine, 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. O6-benzylguanine may also help temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy with a peripheral stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, using stem cells from the patient that are genetically-modified in the laboratory to protect them from the side effects of chemotherapy, may allow more chemotherapy to be given so that more tumor cells are killed. Giving combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy together with a peripheral stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy works in treating younger patients who are undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant for newly diagnosed gliomas.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving O6-benzylguanine together with temozolomide works in treating young patients with recurrent or progressive gliomas or brain stem tumors. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as O6-benzylguanine and temozolomide , work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. O6-benzylguanine may help temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.

Bortezomib 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 bortezomib before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving bortezomib together with temozolomide after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. This phase II trial is studying how well giving bortezomib before surgery followed by giving bortezomib together with temozolomide after surgery works in treating patients with recurrent malignant glioma.