Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells or Gliadel Wafer in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme That Can Be Removed by Surgery

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary malignant glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (i.e., grade IV anaplastic astrocytoma)
• Must have undergone standard primary therapy (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide) within the past 90 days
• * Additional anticancer therapy as part of first-line therapy, including a radiosurgical procedure (e.g., stereotactic or gamma knife radiosurgery) allowed
• Must be an operable candidate and willing to undergo craniotomy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
• Life expectancy ≥ 2 months
• Hemoglobin \> 10.0 g/dL
• AGC \> 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³
• Serum total bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST \< 2.5 times ULN
• Serum creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
• Negative pregnancy test
• Resides in the United States of America
• Venous access available for leukapheresis procedure to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells
• No diagnosis of any other invasive cancer within the past 5 years, except in situ carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma or localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
• * Patients with prior diagnosis of minimal microscopic cancer (e.g., colonic polyp or stage I prostate cancer with Gleason score \< 6) may be eligible, as determined by the principal investigator
• No concurrent serious medical or psychiatric illness that may interfere with giving informed consent or conducting this study
• No known hypersensitivity or allergy to either carmustine or aldesleukin
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior anticancer therapy and recovered
• No polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel® wafer) at the time of prior surgery for GBM
• No prior treatment for progressive disease
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy (e.g., continuation of hormonal therapy for breast or prostate cancer that was diagnosed \> 5 years ago)