Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage I-IV primary central nervous system lymphoma for which no curative therapy exists
• Measurable tumor by MRI or CT scan
• Tumor must be greater than 2 cm in largest diameter
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• At least 2 months
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC greater than 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 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 insufficiency
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Cardiovascular:
• No cardiac insufficiency
• No hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 4 weeks after study participation
• No serious infection requiring antibiotics, antifungals, or antivirals
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent immunomodulatory agents (e.g., interferon or interleukin-2)
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No concurrent antineoplastic agent
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed
• Must be on stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No prior antineoplastons