View clinical trials related to Brain Neoplasms.
Filter by:RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery in treating patients who have brain tumors.
This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of treating brain tumors in children with a continuous infusion of phenylbutyrate. A breakdown product of this drug, phenylacetate, is normally found in low concentrations in the blood. At much higher concentrations, phenylbutyrate and phenylacetate are active against cancer in animals. Patients between 2 and 21 years old with a brain tumor that has progressed or recurred after radiation or chemotherapy, including bone marrow transplant, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) of the head and, if needed, a spinal fluid test and bone marrow test. Study participants will have a continuous infusion of phenylbutyrate for two 28-day cycles-every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The medicine will be infused through a thin tube (catheter) placed in a large vein in the upper chest, delivered through a portable infusion pump. Patients will be hospitalized for at least 3 days when the treatment begins. If there are no side effects at that time, the infusions can continue on an outpatient basis. The patient or care giver will receive the medicine in 4-day supplies and will be taught how to change the bag and tubing daily for drug administration, as well as how to use the infusion pump. Patients will be monitored with weekly blood tests to look for side effects and measure blood levels of phenylbutyrate. They will have a physical examination at least once a week. At the end of the second 28-day cycle, patients will have a CT or MRI scan to evaluate the tumor's response to treatment. Patients whose tumor has grown will stop treatment and come off the study. Those whose tumor has remained stable or shrunk may continue phenylbutyrate as long as the treatment is beneficial and there are no serious side effects. CT or MRI scans will be done after every 2 cycles (or sooner if needed) to evaluate the treatment. Patients with certain tumor types (medulloblastoma, PNET, ependymoma, malignant germ cell tumor and pineoblastoma) or who have symptoms that indicate there might be tumor along the spinal cord may have a spinal tap. For this procedure, the patient lies on the side and a needle is inserted between two vertebrae (bones of the spine) in the lower back, into the cerebrospinal fluid space. A sample of fluid is drawn for testing for cancer cells. If the tumor has spread through the spinal fluid, a spinal tap will be done every other cycle (every 2 months) to monitor the effects of therapy.
RATIONALE: Determination of genetic markers for leukemia or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is secondary to Hodgkin's disease and childhood brain tumors may help doctors to identify patients who are at risk for these cancers. PURPOSE: Clinical trial to determine the presence of certain genes in patients who are receiving treatment for Hodgkin's disease or childhood brain tumors.
OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the clinical response of patients with refractory or recurrent brain neoplasms treated with carmustine, streptozocin, and mercaptopurine.
RATIONALE: Inserting the gene for p53 into a person's brain cells may improve the body's ability to fight cancer. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of p53 gene therapy with SCH-58500 in treating patients who have recurrent, or progressive glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, or anaplastic mixed glioma that can be removed during surgery.
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving radiation therapy in different ways may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy in treating patients who are undergoing surgical removal of progressive or recurrent malignant brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and deliver tumor-killing substances, such as radioactive iodine, to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody after radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed primary brain tumors that can be surgically resected.
RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and deliver radioactive tumor-killing substances such as radioactive iodine to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I/II trial is studying the side effects, best way to give, and best dose of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody and to see how well it works in treating patients with primary brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and deliver radioactive tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. This may be effective treatment for primary or metastatic brain tumors. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Current therapies for childhood brain tumors provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of childhood brain tumors. PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on children (> 6 months of age) with brain tumors.