Immunotoxin Therapy in Treating Children With Progressive or Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme or Anaplastic Astrocytoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma with the following tumor characteristics:
• * Unifocal
• * Unilateral and supratentorial
• * Diameter no greater than 3.5 cm by contrast-enhanced MRI
• No more than 1 satellite tumor
• Recurrent or progressive disease
• * Progressive disease defined as at least 25% increase in tumor volume by serial MRI or CT scans and/or at least 15% increase in the largest cross-sectional area of tumor as defined by the area of contrast agent enhancement
• Must have received prior conventional treatment comprising both of the following:
• * Surgery (biopsy or debulking)
• * Radiation therapy
• No evidence of mass effect on CT scan or MRI with more than a 5 mm midline shift and/or nausea, vomiting, reduced level of consciousness, or clinically significant papilledema
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 5 to 18
• Performance status
• Karnofsky 60-100% OR
• Lansky Play 50-100%
• Life expectancy
• At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
• PT or aPTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Not specified
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 2 months after study
• No acute viral, bacterial, or fungal infection requiring therapy
• * Topical treatment for oral candidiasis allowed
• No other concurrent medical condition that would preclude anesthesia
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• No prior transferrin-CRM107
• Chemotherapy
• More than 1 month since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• More than 3 months since prior biodegradable polymer wafers
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• Must be on stable dose of steroids for 7 days prior to infusion
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 3 months since prior radiotherapy
• More than 3 months since prior stereotactic radiosurgery
• More than 6 weeks since prior craniospinal irradiation
• No prior brachytherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 1 month since prior surgery including tumor surgery or debulking
• No other concurrent surgery
• Other
• More than 30 days since prior investigational agents
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No other concurrent anti-cancer drugs