RATIONALE: Current therapies for children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy, provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy.

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy, 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 children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which children with visual pathway gliomas, which are not amenable to or have not responded to standard therapy, 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. After 12 months, patients with a complete or partial response or with stable disease may continue treatment.

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: Approximately 20-40 patients will be accrued to this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed (unless medically contraindicated) visual pathway glioma, which is not amenable to standard therapy or did not respond to standard therapy.
• Evidence of tumor by MRI scan performed within 2 weeks prior to the study entry
• Tumor must be at least 5 mm
• No brain stem tumors

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 6 months to 17 years

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2000/mm3
• Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

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

Renal:

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

Cardiovascular:

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

Pulmonary:

• No severe lung disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No serious active infections or fever
• No other serious concurrent disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed (must be on stable dose for at least 1 week prior to study)

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No prior antineoplaston therapy

8 years, 2 months

Adverse event data was collected through regular patient assessment and regular laboratory testing