Mafosfamide in Treating Patients With Progressive or Refractory Meningeal Tumors

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma with meningeal involvement defined as cerebrospinal fluid cell count at least 5/mm\^3 AND evidence of blast cells on cytospin preparation or by cytology OR
• Diagnosis of other solid tumor with meningeal involvement defined as presence of tumor cells on cytospin preparation or cytology OR presence of measurable meningeal disease on CT or MRI scan
• Meningeal malignancy must be progressive or refractory to conventional therapy
• * Meningeal malignancies secondary to an underlying solid tumor are allowed at initial diagnosis provided there is no conventional therapy
• No concurrent bone marrow relapse in leukemia or lymphoma patients
• No clinical evidence of obstructive hydrocephalus or compartmentalization of the cerebrospinal fluid flow as documented by a radioisotope indium In 111 or technetium Te 99-DTPA flow study
• * Patients demonstrating restored flow after focal radiotherapy are allowed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Over 3
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• No clinically significant liver function abnormalities
• Renal:
• No clinically significant renal function abnormalities
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• No clinically significant metabolic parameter abnormalities (e.g., electrolytes, calcium, and phosphorus)
• No significant systemic illness (e.g., infection)
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Recovered from prior immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 1 week since prior intrathecal chemotherapy (2 weeks for cytarabine (liposomal)) and recovered
• Concurrent systemic chemotherapy to control systemic or bulk CNS disease allowed with the following exceptions:
• * No phase I agent
• * No agent that significantly penetrates the CNS (e.g., high-dose systemic methotrexate (more than 1 g/m\^2), high-dose cytarabine (more than 2 g/m\^2), IV mercaptopurine, fluorouracil, topotecan, or thiotepa)
• * No agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• At least 8 weeks since prior craniospinal irradiation
• Local radiotherapy for symptomatic or bulky CNS disease must be given prior to induction therapy
• No concurrent whole brain or craniospinal irradiation
• * Concurrent partial brain (e.g., base of brain) or limited-field spinal radiotherapy for asymptomatic bulky (radiographically visible) CNS disease allowed
• Total CNS radiotherapy dose must not exceed accepted safe tissue tolerances
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 1 week since any prior CNS therapy
• At least 7 days since prior intrathecal investigational agent
• At least 14 days since prior systemic investigational agent
• No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic investigational agent
• No other concurrent intrathecal or systemic therapy to treat meningeal malignancy
• No other concurrent intrathecal therapy or agent that significantly penetrates the blood-brain barrier
• No concurrent agent known to have serious unpredictable CNS side effects