Active clinical trials for "Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as lomustine, cisplatin, and vincristine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving radiation therapy followed by combination chemotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving radiation therapy followed by combination chemotherapy works in treating young patients with supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as hydroxyurea, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether hydroxyurea is more effective when given alone or together with imatinib mesylate in treating patients with meningioma. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well hydroxyurea works compared with giving hydroxyurea together with imatinib mesylate in treating patients with recurrent or progressive meningioma.

RATIONALE: Immunotoxins can locate tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. Immunotoxin therapy may be an effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of immunotoxin therapy in treating children who have progressive or recurrent glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy in treating patients who have recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and photosensitizing drugs to kill tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for refractory brain tumors. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of photodynamic therapy using porfimer sodium in treating patients with refractory brain tumors, including astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Hyperbaric oxygen may increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Combining hyperbaric oxygen with radiation therapy may be an effective treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of combining radiation therapy with hyperbaric oxygen in treating patients who have newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: New imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging may improve the ability to determine the growth rate of progressive astrocytoma. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging in treating children who have progressive low-grade astrocytoma.

The investigators hypothesize that the rate of radiologically complete resections of contrast-enhancing brain tumors following surgeries aided by use of 5-ALA induced fluorescence guidance and use of an intraoperative ultra-low field MRI is higher compared to surgeries aided by 5-ALA induced fluorescene alone.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood in the laboratory from patients receiving temozolomide may help doctors learn how temozolomide works in the body. It may also help doctors learn more about how a patient's genes may affect the risk of developing thrombocytopenia. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the pharmacokinetics in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma receiving temozolomide and radiation therapy.

RATIONALE: Enzastaurin may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. 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 enzastaurin together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of enzastaurin when given together with temozolomide in treating patients with primary gliomas.