Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Internal radiation uses radioactive material placed directly into or near a tumor to kill tumor cells. External-beam radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Combining internal radiation with external-beam radiation therapy may kill any remaining tumor cells following surgery. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining internal radiation therapy with external-beam radiation therapy in treating patients who have undergone surgery for glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Radiolabeled octreotide can locate tumor cells and deliver radioactive tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is to study the safety and effectiveness of radiolabeled octreotide in treating children who have advanced or refractory solid tumors.

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. Combining more than one chemotherapy drug with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy plus radiation therapy in treating patients who have newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. This may be an effective treatment for some types of brain tumors. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody in treating patients who have glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Combining different types of biological therapies may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of biological therapy following surgery and radiation therapy in treating patients who have primary or recurrent astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow doctors to give higher doses of radiation therapy and chemotherapy and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for patients with glioma. Stereotactic radiation therapy may be able to deliver x-rays directly to the tumor and cause less damage to normal tissue. It is not yet known if standard radiation therapy is more effective when followed by stereotactic radiation therapy. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of standard radiation therapy with or without stereotactic radiation therapy in treating patients who have glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of ecteinascidin 743 in treating patients who have advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether SU-101 is more effective than procarbazine in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of SU-101 with that of procarbazine in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme that has recurred.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of temozolomide in treating patients with recurrent oligodendroglial tumors following combination chemotherapy.