O6-benzylguanine and Carmustine in Treating Children With Refractory CNS Tumors

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically proven CNS tumor that is refractory to conventional therapy or for which no effective therapy is known
• Histological requirement may be waived for brainstem and optic gliomas
• Stratum 2: No bone marrow involvement
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age: 21 and under
• Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% OR Lansky 50-100%
• Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 (stratum 2: at least 125,000/mm3)
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Creatinine or GFR normal for age
• If required, DLCO must be 80% of normal and patient old enough to cooperate for DLCO test
• Neurologic deficits must be stable for at least 2 weeks prior to study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• At least 7 days since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy and recovered
• At least 6 months since prior bone marrow transplant (stratum 1 only)
• At least 7 days since prior growth factors
• No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) prophylaxis
• Stratum 2: No prior bone marrow transplantation
• At least 2 weeks since prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea) and recovered
• Stratum 2: No greater than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
• No prior nitrosourea therapy
• If receiving dexamethasone, must be on stable or decreasing dose for at least 2 weeks prior to study
• At least 2 weeks since prior local palliative radiotherapy (small port)
• At least 6 months since prior substantial bone marrow radiation, total body irradiation, hemipelvic radiotherapy, or total abdominal/pelvic/chest or mantle/Y ports radiotherapy
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• Stratum 2: No prior central axis radiation
• No other concurrent anticancer or investigational agents