Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Following Surgery in Treating Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme Removed During Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically proven glioblastoma multiforme for which conventional radiotherapy would be of little or no benefit
• Gross total resection of tumor confirmed by postoperative MRI performed within 48 hours of surgery
• Evaluable preoperative and postoperative MRI films with and without contrast must be available
• No prior brain malignancy
• No prior craniotomy except for glioblastoma
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 50 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 70-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal unless caused by reversible reaction to antiseizure medication
• Renal:
• Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Cardiovascular:
• No severe heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, angina pectoris)
• Pulmonary:
• No severe dyspnea at time of diagnosis
• No severe obstructive or restrictive lung disease
• Other:
• No other concurrent malignant tumor
• No severe gastrointestinal disease or active peptic ulcer disease
• No uncontrolled endocrine disease
• No serious mental disease, organic brain disease (e.g., preexisting epilepsy or serious aphasia), or legally incapacitated patients
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic therapy for glioblastoma multiforme
• No concurrent biologic therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No prior endocrine therapy for glioblastoma multiforme except corticosteroids
• No concurrent endocrine therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme
• No prior radiotherapy to head and neck
• No other concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior stereotactic biopsy allowed for glioblastoma multiforme