Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Donepezil may decrease the side effects caused by radiation therapy to the brain. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well donepezil works in treating young patients with primary brain tumors previously treated with radiation therapy to the brain.

RATIONALE: Donepezil and EGb761 may be effective in improving neurocognitive function (such as thinking, attention, concentration, and memory) and may improve quality of life in patients who have undergone radiation therapy to the brain. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well donepezil or EGb761 works in improving neurocognitive function in patients who have undergone radiation therapy for primary brain tumor or brain metastases.

In this trial, we will treat relapsed PCNSL with temozolomide, pemetrexed. Our objective was to assess our treatment strategies' availability based on response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), median PFS, and toxicity.

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. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving temozolomide together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving temozolomide together with radiation therapy works in treating young patients with pontine glioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as etoposide, carboplatin, and bleomycin, 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. Giving chemotherapy drugs before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving combination chemotherapy after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well giving etoposide, carboplatin, and bleomycin works in treating young patients undergoing surgery for malignant germ cell tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as etoposide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well etoposide works in treating young patients with ependymoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy 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. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether giving methotrexate together with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy is more effective than combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy alone in treating gliomas. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying giving methotrexate together with combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy to see how well it works compared to combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy alone in treating young patients with newly diagnosed gliomas.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as thiotepa, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well thiotepa works together with radiation therapy in treating young patients with newly diagnosed malignant brain tumors.

RATIONALE: Erlotinib 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. Giving erlotinib together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of erlotinib when given alone or together with radiation therapy in treating young patients with refractory or relapsed malignant brain tumors or newly diagnosed brain stem glioma.

RATIONALE: 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. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving arsenic trioxide and temozolomide together with radiation therapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of arsenic trioxide and temozolomide when given together with radiation therapy and to see how well they work in treating patients with malignant glioma that has been removed by surgery.