Biological Therapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed intracranial glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or gliosarcoma by biopsy or resection within the past 28 days
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Performance status
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy
• More than 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT less than 2 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Other
• No significant medical illness that cannot be controlled adequately with appropriate therapy or that would compromise tolerability of study therapy
• No other cancer (except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix) unless in complete remission and off all therapy for that disease for at least 3 years
• No active infection
• No disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
• No other serious concurrent medical illness
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• No prior polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel wafer)
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy
• Concurrent corticosteroids to treat symptoms or prevent complications are allowed
• Radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to the brain
• No concurrent stereotactic radiosurgery
• No concurrent brachytherapy
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other
• No prior cytotoxic or noncytotoxic drug therapy for GBM
• No prior experimental drug therapy for GBM
• No other concurrent cytotoxic or noncytotoxic drug therapy for GBM
• Concurrent analgesics, antiepileptics, or other drugs to treat symptoms or prevent complications are allowed