Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Anaplastic Astrocytoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed incurable adult anaplastic astrocytoma
• •Evidence of progressive or recurrent tumor by MRI scan performed within 2 weeks prior to study entry
• •Must have received and failed standard therapy
• •Tumor must be at least 5 mm
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •18 and over
• •Performance status:
• •Karnofsky 60-100%
• •Life expectancy:
• •At least 2 months
• •Hematopoietic:
• •WBC at least 2000/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 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 uncontrolled hypertension
• •No history of congestive heart failure
• •No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• •Pulmonary:
• •No serious lung disease such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• •Other:
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• •No active infection
• •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 allowed
• •Radiotherapy:
• •At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• •Surgery:
• •Fully recovered from any prior surgery
• •Other:
• •Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed
• •No prior antineoplaston therapy