Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Adult Patients With Anaplastic Astrocytoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of anaplastic astrocytoma * Tumor subtotally resected or biopsied prior to therapy * Evidence of residual tumor by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry * No brain stem tumors PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal * No hepatic failure Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * No renal failure Cardiovascular: * No prior congestive heart failure * No coronary artery disease * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No angina requiring medication * No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary: * No moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * No active infection * No other concurrent serious disease * No other prior malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or superficial nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: * No prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed Radiotherapy: * No prior myelosuppressive radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from any prior surgery Other: * No prior cytodifferentiating agents * No prior antineoplaston therapy * No other concurrent antineoplastic agents