OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Investigate the feasibility of centrally collecting and processing high-quality cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from pediatric patients with newly diagnosed central nervous system tumors for proteomic studies.
* Identify protein markers that might indicate the presence of a brain tumor using CSF samples collected from these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Patients undergo cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection from any or all of the following 5 sites: lumbar, cervical, ommaya, intra-operative (ventricular, cisternal), and/or external ventricular drain. CSF is obtained within 8 weeks of diagnosis but prior to (or concurrent with) the initiation of any post-operative therapy (excluding corticosteroids).
CSF samples are examined for proteomic biomarkers by 2D gel electrophoresis, low-mass fingerprinting, and stable isotope labeling.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 99 patients will be accrued for this study.
