Active clinical trials for "Central Nervous System Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, busulfan, and O6-benzylguanine, 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. O6-benzylguanine may also help temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy with a peripheral stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant, using stem cells from the patient that are genetically-modified in the laboratory to protect them from the side effects of chemotherapy, may allow more chemotherapy to be given so that more tumor cells are killed. Giving combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy together with a peripheral stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy works in treating younger patients who are undergoing an autologous stem cell transplant for newly diagnosed gliomas.

RATIONALE: Specialized radiation therapy that delivers radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well radiation therapy works in treating young patients with gliomas.

Vaccines made from a person's tumor cells, such as gp96 heat shock protein-peptide complex, may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of gp96 heat shock protein-peptide complex vaccine to see how well it works in treating patients with recurrent or progressive high-grade glioma over time.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving O6-benzylguanine together with temozolomide works in treating young patients with recurrent or progressive gliomas or brain stem tumors. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as O6-benzylguanine and temozolomide , work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. O6-benzylguanine may help temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. 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. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving radiation therapy together with temozolomide and erlotinib after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving radiation therapy together with temozolomide and erlotinib works in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

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 patients with low-grade gliomas.

This phase II trial is studying how well giving radiation therapy together with temozolomide and lomustine works in treating young patients with newly diagnosed gliomas. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide and lomustine, 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 together with temozolomide and lomustine after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a person's white blood cells and tumor cells may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Giving vaccine therapy after surgery may be a more effective treatment for malignant glioma. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vaccine therapy in treating young patients who are undergoing surgery for malignant glioma.

RATIONALE: Lapatinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of lapatinib and to see how well it works in treating patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide and irinotecan, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well radiation therapy, temozolomide, and irinotecan work in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.