Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

This study examines cerebrospinal biomarkers in patients with brain tumors. A biomarker is a measurable indicator of the severity or presence of your disease state. Collecting and storing samples of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with brain tumors to study in the laboratory may help doctors develop new strategies to better diagnose, monitor, and treat brain tumors.

Somatic mosaicism in cancer associated genes is one potential explanation for discordance in childhood cancer that has not been fully explored to date. This pilot study will focus on twins with central nervous system (CNS) tumors who are identified through the Children's Oncology Group's Project: EveryChild (PEC) registry or volunteer.

This study gathers health information for the Project: Every Child for younger patients with cancer. Gathering health information over time from younger patients with cancer may help doctors find better methods of treatment and on-going care.

The purpose of this study is to improve upon the knowledge currently available about pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors by further examining biological samples from pediatric patients with tumors undergoing surgery.

This study evaluates patient perceptions around quality of care through telemedicine in neuro-oncology. Studying questionnaires related to perceptions quality of care through telemedicine in patients with brain cancer may help doctors to improve the delivery of care through this modality.

This laboratory study is looking at stored tumor samples in young patients with brain tumors. Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.

This phase I trial studies the impact of taking drugs (agents) that target altered brain metabolism following standard of care brain radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. However, radiotherapy can also cause harmful effects to normal brain functioning. One drug, called anhydrous enol-oxaloacetate (AEO), has previously been studied in ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and glioma. Drugs such as AEO may help preserve or restore healthy brain function after brain radiotherapy compared to the standard practice which consists of no drugs.

RATIONALE: Drugs such as temsirolimus and valproic acid may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Valproic acid may also stop the growth of solid tumors by blocking blood flow to the tumor. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and the best dose of temsirolimus when given together with valproic acid in treating young patients with relapsed neuroblastoma, bone sarcoma, or soft tissue sarcoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or stopping them from dividing. Bortezomib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving temozolomide together with bortezomib may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: To determine the best dose of bortezomib and temozolomide and to see how well they work in treating patients with advanced refractory solid tumors or melanoma.

RATIONALE: A peripheral blood stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant using stem cells from the patient may be able to replace immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy and image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy used to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of bone marrow radiation therapy followed by an autologous stem cell transplant in treating patients with high-risk or relapsed solid tumors.