Radiation Therapy Followed by Carmustine in Treating Patients Who Have Supratentorial Glioblastoma Multiforme

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme by surgical biopsy or resection within 5 weeks of study
• Postoperative residual contrast enhancing tumor and resection tumor cavity together no greater than 60 mm in maximum diameter
• No well-differentiated or anaplastic astrocytomas or multifocal glioma
• No tumors originating in the brainstem
• No residual tumor within 10 mm of optic chiasm
• No recurrent glioblastoma multiforme
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• Zubrod 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) or serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) less than 2 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.8 mg/dL
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) less than 30 mg/dL
• Pulmonary:
• Chest x-ray normal OR
• Diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) greater than 60% predicted
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Neurologic functional status 0-3
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or bladder, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, or nonmelanomatous skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Not specified
• Endocrine therapy:
• Concurrent steroids allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• Concurrent anticonvulsants allowed