OBJECTIVES:
* Determine the time course, uniformity, and severity of acute and chronic normal tissue reactions in patients with glioblastoma multiforme or intracranial melanoma treated with boronophenylalanine-fructose complex (BPA-f) followed by cranial neutron irradiation using a new fission converter beam facility.
* Determine the maximum tolerated dose of cranial neutron capture therapy in these patients.
* Determine, through serial objective measurements, the clinical response in patients treated with this therapy.
* Determine the pharmacokinetics of BPA-f in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of cranial neutron capture therapy (NCT).
Patients receive boronophenylalanine-fructose complex IV over 90 minutes followed by cranial NCT on days 1 and 2.
Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of NCT until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Once the MTD is determined, additional patients are treated at the MTD.
Patients are followed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months and then every 6 months for 2 years.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 16 patients will be accrued for this study within 2 years.
