Temozolomide Plus Lomustine Followed by Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With High-Grade Malignant Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed high-grade malignant glioma of one of the following subtypes:
• * Glioblastoma
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma
• * Gliomatosis cerebri
• No disseminated disease or primary spinal cord malignancies
• Measurable intracranial residual disease by MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 3 and over
• Under 22 at time of diagnosis
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 50-100% if over 10 years of age
• Lansky 50-100% if 10 years of age or under
• Life expectancy:
• At least 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 (transfusion independent)
• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL (RBC transfusions allowed)
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal for age
• SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal for age
• Albumin at least 2 g/dL
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal for age OR
• Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate at least lower limit of normal for age
• Pulmonary:
• No dyspnea at rest
• No exercise intolerance
• Pulse oximetry at least 94%
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled infection
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic therapy
• No concurrent prophylactic hematopoietic growth factors
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Prior corticosteroid therapy allowed
• No concurrent corticosteroids as antiemetic
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• No more than 31 days since prior maximal neurosurgical procedure
• Other:
• No concurrent phenobarbital or cimetidine