Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Adult Patients With Anaplastic Astrocytoma

RATIONALE: Current therapies for adults with anaplastic astrocytoma provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of adults with anaplastic astrocytoma.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on adults with anaplastic astrocytoma.

OBJECTIVES:

* To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in adults with anaplastic astrocytoma 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 adults with anaplastic astrocytoma.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which adults with anaplastic astrocytoma 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 or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of anaplastic astrocytoma
* Tumor subtotally resected or biopsied prior to therapy
* Evidence of residual tumor by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry
* No brain stem tumors

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

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

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
* No renal failure

Cardiovascular:

* No prior congestive heart failure
* No coronary artery disease
* No myocardial infarction within the past year
* No angina requiring medication
* No uncontrolled hypertension

Pulmonary:

* No moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
* No active infection
* No other concurrent serious disease
* No other prior malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or superficial nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior immunotherapy
* No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

* No prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed

Radiotherapy:

* No prior myelosuppressive radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from any prior surgery

Other:

* No prior cytodifferentiating agents
* No prior antineoplaston therapy
* No other concurrent antineoplastic agents