Standard Radiation Therapy With or Without Stereotactic Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven WHO grade III or IV glioma at primary diagnosis that enhance on preoperative imaging Glioblastoma Anaplastic astrocytoma Gliosarcoma Tumor volume no greater than 4.0 cm in maximum diameter on preoperative CT or MRI No prior histology of WHO grade I or II glioma Astrocytoma Oligodendroglioma No brainstem or infratentorial tumor No multifocal glioma Safe to treat tumor stereotactically No close proximity to critical structures, e.g., optic chiasm
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 65 Performance status: WHO 0 or 1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: Able to tolerate full course of conventional radiotherapy No prior or concurrent medical condition that would preclude study therapy No prior malignancies within 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy No concurrent adjuvant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Concurrent steroids allowed Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to the head and neck area No prior radiotherapy to the brain No more than 6 weeks since other prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics