Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Mixed Gliomas

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed incurable primary mixed glioma that is recurrent or refractory following standard therapy, including radiation therapy
• Evidence of recurrent or refractory tumor by MRI scan performed within two 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/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3
• Hepatic:
• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Cardiovascular:
• No known chronic heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Pulmonary:
• No severe lung disease
• No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No other severe medical illness
• No nonmalignant systemic disease
• No active infection
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (unless there is evidence of disease progression)
• Surgery:
• Fully recovered from prior surgery
• Other:
• Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed
• No prior antineoplaston therapy