Combination Chemotherapy for Patients With Brain Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy proven glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma Central pathologic review at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, including assay for tumor p53 expression No anaplastic oligodendroglioma No mixed oligodendroastrocytoma Recurrent or progressive disease following radiotherapy documented by CT or MRI within 2 weeks of entry
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60%-100% Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000 ANC at least 1,500 Platelets at least 100,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.0 mg/dL AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: No documented sensitivity to E. coli-derived products No major medical or psychiatric illness that would interfere with therapy or compliance with scheduled follow-up No pregnant or nursing women Adequate contraception required of fertile patients
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior taxanes or topoisomerase I inhibitors At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas) At least 4 weeks since radiotherapy