View clinical trials related to Nervous System Neoplasms.
Filter by:The objective of this study is to evaluate patients with tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) for eligibility in the National Cancer Institute s research studies. These patients will undergo a series of procedures, usually including a complete medical history and physical examination; laboratory testing of blood, CSF, urine, bone marrow, or other samples; an evaluation of tumor location and size by x-rays, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, or nuclear medicine scans; lumbar puncture; electrocardiogram and echocardiogram; and procedures to evaluate the function of specific organs. A bone marrow biopsy is occasionally performed. Research samples may also be collected and stored to avoid having to do a painful test more than once. Tissue specimens collected during this process may be stored and used in future studies. Patients of both genders, any age, and all racial and ethnic groups with tumors of the CNS or a history of a CNS tumor are eligible. Up to 100 people are expected to participate. The physician will discuss the results of these procedures with the patient and his or her family. On the basis of the eligibility screening and the patient s wishes, the patient may then be enrolled in a primary research protocol.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining temozolomide with radiation therapy in treating patients who have newly diagnosed anaplastic oligodendrogliomas or mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytomas.
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs such as motexafin gadolinium may make the tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness motexafin gadolinium in treating patients with glioblastoma multiforme who are undergoing radiation therapy to the brain.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to determine the effectiveness of mafosfamide in treating patients who have progressive or refractory meningeal tumors.
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: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells, but also damages normal cells in the developing brains of children. Combining low-dose radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy should be effective in treating medulloblastoma while avoiding the long-term side effects of giving higher dose radiation to children with newly diagnosed average risk medulloblastoma.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Paclitaxel may make the tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining paclitaxel with radiation therapy in treating children who have newly diagnosed brain stem glioma.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ixabepilone in treating young patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors or leukemia.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy after surgery followed by chemotherapy alone works in children with newly diagnosed astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, gliosarcoma, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
RATIONALE: Dalteparin may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor and by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining dalteparin with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining dalteparin with radiation therapy in treating patients who have newly diagnosed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme.