Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

The purpose of this study is to help us understand gliomas, one type of brain tumor. This research protocol makes pictures of gliomas. We will take pictures of the glioma before and after treatment. The pictures are made with a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. PET scans use radioactive markers to "see" cancer cells. We plan to use two different radioactive markers, [18F]FACBC and [18F]FLT, to "see" if the glioma responds to the treatment being recommended by the doctor. We are investigating whether one or both of these types of PET scans can help us to better understand gliomas and their response to treatment. We expect these pictures will give us information the your tumor and may help us to understand why the treatment that the patient is receiving is affecting the tumor the way that it is. We also hope to collect information about the amount of radioactivity exposure. We will measure radioactivity exposure to the tumor, brain and other organs.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs, such as lithium, may protect normal cells from the side effects of radiation therapy. Giving lithium together with radiation therapy may allow a higher dose of radiation therapy to be given so that more tumor cells are killed. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of lithium when given together with whole-brain radiation therapy in treating patients with brain metastases from primary cancer outside the brain.

RATIONALE: Methylphenidate hydrochloride or modafinil may help reduce daytime sleepiness and improve the quality of life of patients with excessive daytime sleepiness after cancer therapy. It is not yet known whether methylphenidate hydrochloride or modafinil are more effective than a placebo in reducing daytime sleepiness in these patients. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying methylphenidate hydrochloride or modafinil to see how well they work compared with a placebo in treating young patients with excessive daytime sleepiness after cancer therapy.

RATIONALE: Methadone, morphine, or oxycodone may help relieve pain caused by cancer. It is not yet known whether methadone is more effective than morphine or oxycodone in treating pain in patients with cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying methadone to see how well it works compared with morphine or oxycodone in treating pain in patients with cancer.

RATIONALE: Testosterone gel may be effective in preventing or lessening muscle weakness caused by steroid therapy in men receiving glucocorticoids for newly diagnosed high-grade glioma. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well testosterone gel works in preventing weakness caused by steroid therapy in men receiving glucocorticoids for newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.

RATIONALE: Methylphenidate may decrease side effects of radiation therapy. It is not yet known if methylphenidate is effective in improving quality of life in patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of methylphenidate in improving quality of life in patients who have brain tumors and are undergoing radiation therapy.

RATIONALE: The influenza vaccine may help prevent flu in patients who have undergone stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well the influenza vaccine works in preventing flu in patients who have undergone stem cell transplant and in healthy volunteers.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. Chemoprotective drugs such as amifostine may protect normal cells from the side effects of high-dose chemotherapy. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of amifostine in protecting from the side effects of peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating patients who have high-risk or relapsed solid tumors.

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect size and variability of dural tension measured as intracranial pressure (ICP) below the dura of the surgical field in patients undergoing elective supra-tentorial surgery for brain neoplasms in patients alternatively ventilated with traditional high-volume-no-PEEP ventilation and protective low-volume-low-PEEP ventilation.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Motexafin gadolinium may make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy and combination chemotherapy. Giving motexafin gadolinium together with chemotherapy, rituximab, and radiation therapy may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects of giving motexafin gadolinium together with combination chemotherapy, rituximab, and whole-brain radiation therapy and to see how well it works in treating patients with newly diagnosed primary central nervous system lymphoma.