Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Children With 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.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which children with brain tumors 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.

OBJECTIVES:

* To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in children with a brain tumor, 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.
* 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 (except if medically contraindicated) childhood brain tumor for which no curative therapy exists
* Measurable tumor by MRI scan performed within two 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 greater than 2000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3

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 history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

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

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
* 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 before study entry)

Radiation therapy:

* At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Recovered from any prior surgery

Other:

* No prior antineoplaston therapy