Studying Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins and Angiogenesis Proteins in Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed Central Nervous System Tumors

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed CNS tumors of any of the following histologies:
• •* Diffuse pontine gliomas\*
• •* Focal/infiltrative tumors, including any of the following:
• •* High- and low-grade gliomas
• •* Gangliogliomas
• •* Ependymomas
• •* Oligodendrogliomas
• •* Craniopharyngioma
• •* Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors
• •* Other low-grade neoplasms
• •* Optic pathway gliomas\*
• •* Seeding tumors, including any of the following:
• •* Germ cell tumors (germinomas and nongerminomas)
• •* Embryonal tumors, including any of the following:
• •* Medulloblastoma
• •* Pineoblastoma
• •* Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors
• •* Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
• •* Other embryonal tumors NOTE: \*Histological requirement waived
• •Newly diagnosed disease
• •Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained as part of CSF diversion, initial diagnosis/staging, or administration of intrathecal chemotherapy (at the initiation of postoperative therapy)
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Less than 22 years of age
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •No prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy
• •Prior corticosteroids allowed