Chemotherapy Followed by Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Glioma

Overview

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of cladribine followed by radiation therapy in treating patients who have malignant glioma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of cladribine in combination with radiotherapy in patients with high grade glioma. II. Assess this regimen in terms of toxicity and survival in these patients. III. Assess the acute neurotoxicity of continuous infusion cladribine in these patients. IV. Assess this regimen in terms of response, local control, and time to progression in these patients. V. Define a dose level of cladribine associated with potentiation of acute and/or delayed radiation toxicity (radiosensitizing dose level). OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of cladribine. Patients receive cladribine by continuous IV infusion 5 days a week for 4 weeks and undergo radiotherapy twice a day, beginning 3 hours after initiation of cladribine, 5 days a week for 4.5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of cladribine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose limiting toxicity. Patients are followed at 1 month, then every 3 months thereafter for survival. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 12-42 patients will be accrued for this study within 18 months.

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Eligibility

Locations (1)