Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Children With Low-Grade Astrocytoma

You may be eligible if

• 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