Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Mixed Gliomas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed incurable primary mixed glioma that is recurrent or refractory following standard therapy, including radiation therapy
• Evidence of recurrent or refractory tumor by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry
• Must have received and failed standard therapy
• Tumor must be at least 5 mm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

• No known chronic heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

• No severe lung disease
• No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No other severe medical illness
• No nonmalignant systemic disease
• No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (unless there is evidence of disease progression)

Surgery:

• Fully recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed
• No prior antineoplaston therapy