| Inclusion Criteria: | 1) All patients must sign an informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study in keeping with the policies of this hospital.
2) Patients with histologically proven supratentorial anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytomas anaplastic astrocytomas or glioblastoma multiforme.
3) Patients must have unequivocal evidence for tumor recurrence or progression by MRI scan performed within 14 days prior to enrollment or documented recurrence by tumor resection. Patients must have received radiation therapy previously.
4) Patients having undergone recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor will be eligible as long as all the following conditions are met: a) Patients have recovered from the effects of surgery; b) Extent of residual disease (if present) has been documented by MRI performed no later than 72 hours after surgery or, if not possible, at least 4 weeks post-operative. Radiographic evidence of residual disease is not mandated for enrollment.
5) The baseline on-study MRI is performed within 14 days of enrollment and on a steroid dosage that has been stable. If the steroid dose is increased between the date of imaging and the initiation of chemotherpy, a new baseline MRI is required on stable steroids for 7 days.
6) Patients must be equal to or greater than 12 years old.
7) Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status of equal to or greater than 60 (Karnofsky Performance Scale; Appendix D).
8) Patients must have recovered from the toxic effects of prior therapy: 4 weeks from prior cytotoxic therapy and/or at least two weeks from vincristine, 6 weeks from nitrosoureas, 3 weeks from procarbazine administration, and 1 week for non-cytotoxic agents, e.g., interferon, tamoxifen, thalidomide, cis-retinoic acid, etc. (radiosensitizer does not count). Any questions related to the definition of non-cytotoxic agents should be directed to the Study Chair.
9) Patients must have adequate bone marrow function (ANC equal or greater than 1,500/mm3 and platelet count of equal or greater than 100,000/mm3), adequate liver function (SGPT and alkaline phosphatase <2 times normal, bilirubin <1.5 mg%), and adequate renal function (BUN and creatinine <1.5 times institutional normal) prior to starting therapy. |