Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Children With Low-Grade Astrocytoma

RATIONALE: Current therapies for children with low grade astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of children with low grade astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on children (\> 6 months of age) with low grade astrocytomas that has not responded to standard therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

* To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in children with low grade gliomas that has not responded to standard therapy, as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial response or stable disease).
* To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in children with a brain tumor.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which children with low grade astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues for at least 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After 12 months, patients with a complete or partial response or with stable disease may continue treatment.

To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued to this study.

Eligibility Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed low grade astrocytoma.
* Evidence of persistent or progressive tumor after standard therapy by MRI scan performed within 2 weeks prior to study entry
* Tumor must be at least 5 mm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 6 months to 17 years

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
* SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
* No hepatic failure

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
* No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

* No severe heart disease
* No uncontrolled hypertension
* No history of congestive heart failure
* No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

* No severe lung disease

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
* No serious active infections or fever
* No other serious concurrent disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
* No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
* No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

* Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed (must be on stable dose for at least 1 week prior to study entry)

Radiotherapy:

* At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Not specified

Other:

* No prior antineoplaston therapy