RATIONALE: Antineoplastons are naturally-occurring substances that may also be made in the laboratory. Antineoplastons may inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial studies the effectiveness of antineoplaston therapy in treating patients who have glioblastoma multiforme.

OBJECTIVES:

• Study the safety and effectiveness of antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1 in patients with incurable glioblastoma multiforme.
• Describe response, tolerance to, and side effects of this regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous antineoplaston A10 and antineoplaston AS2-1 six times a day until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Patients achieving complete response (CR) continue treatment for an additional 8 months after reaching CR. Treatment continues for at least 3 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression.

Tumors are measured every 2 months during the first year and every 3 months during the second year.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 20-40 patients will be accrued in this study.

• Drug: antineoplaston A10
• Drug: antineoplaston AS2-1

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed incurable glioblastoma multiforme that has progressed, recurred, or persisted following completion of initial standard therapy (including radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy)

  • Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan
• Brain stem tumor is excluded
• 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 2,000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• No liver failure
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit

Renal:

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

Cardiovascular:

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

Pulmonary:

• No serious lung disease (e.g., severe COPD)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use adequate contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No active infection
• No other serious medical or psychiatric conditions

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since immunotherapy
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy (unless radiologically proven progression)
• At least 6 weeks since nitrosoureas

Endocrine therapy:

• Corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 8 weeks since radiotherapy (unless radiologically proven progression)

Surgery:

• Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• No prior antineoplaston therapy
• Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed