RATIONALE: Current therapies for Glioblastoma Multiforme provide very limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of brain tumors.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on adults (≥ 18 years of age) with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which adults (≥ 18 years of age) with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues for at least 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in adults (≥ 18 years of age) with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme, as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial response or stable disease).
• To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in adults (≥ 18 years of age) with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme.
• To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued to this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed Glioblastoma Multiforme
• Subtotal resection or biopsy only of tumor
• Measurable tumor by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry
• Tumor must be at least 5 mm
• No brain stem tumor

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 4 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

• No hepatic failure
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

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

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled hypertension

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No prior immunotherapy
• No concurrent immunomodulatory agents

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy
• No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from any prior surgery

9 years, 6 months

Forty patients were recruited between March 1995 and December 2004. All study subjects were seen at the Burzynski Clinic in Houston TX