Overview

Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Children With Astrocytomas and Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors

Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2008-01-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of methotrexate, mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone in treating children with astrocytomas or primitive neuroectodermal tumors.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Collaborator:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Treatments:
Calcium
Leucovorin
Levoleucovorin
Mechlorethamine
Methotrexate
Prednisone
Procarbazine
Vincristine
Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven previously untreated (except surgically)
primitive neuroectodermal tumors (including medulloblastoma, anaplastic ependymoma,
ependymoblastoma, or pineoblastoma) or high-grade astrocytomas Low-grade astrocytomas or
optic tract tumors that are incompletely resected and have a progressive course not
amenable to further surgery may also be allowed Evaluable disease by MRI, CT scan, or CT
myelography

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Under 4 years Performance status: Not specified Life
expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count greater than
1,500/mm3 WBC greater than 4,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic:
Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL SGPT less than 90 IU/dL Renal: Creatinine clearance greater
than 80 mL/min

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No
prior mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) No prior high-dose
methotrexate No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified
Radiotherapy: No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other:
Recovered from acute toxic effects of any prior therapy Must be on a tyramine-free diet
during procarbazine administration