Motexafin Gadolinium in Treating Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme Who Are Undergoing Radiation Therapy to the Brain

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed supratentorial grade IV astrocytoma
• * Glioblastoma multiforme
• * Previously untreated disease
• Measurable and contrast-enhancing tumor by MRI after incomplete resection/biopsy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 4 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN
• PT/APTT normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• Other:
• Mini mental state exam score at least 15
• No history of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency or porphyria
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or carcinoma in situ of the breast
• No serious infection
• No other medical illness that would preclude study participation
• No allergy to MRI contrast (e.g., motexafin gadolinium)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 2 months after study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy for this disease, including any of the following:
• * Immunotoxins
• * Immunoconjugates
• * Antisense therapy
• * Peptide receptor antagonists
• * Interferons
• * Interleukins
• * Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
• * Lymphokine-activated killer cell therapy
• * Gene therapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy for this disease
• Endocrine therapy:
• Must be on a stable corticosteroid regimen (i.e., no increase within 5 days prior to treatment on this protocol)
• No other prior hormonal therapy for this disease
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy for this disease
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other:
• No other concurrent investigational agents