This non-therapeutic study was registered in error. The PRS team doesn't delete studies once registered, so they recommended changing the status to Withdrawn

RATIONALE: Studying samples of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors identify biomarkers related to cancer.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is studying cerebrospinal fluid proteins and angiogenesis proteins in young patients with newly diagnosed central nervous system tumors.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Investigate the feasibility of centrally collecting and processing high-quality cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from pediatric patients with newly diagnosed central nervous system tumors for proteomic studies.
• Identify protein markers that might indicate the presence of a brain tumor using CSF samples collected from these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients undergo cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection from any or all of the following 5 sites: lumbar, cervical, ommaya, intra-operative (ventricular, cisternal), and/or external ventricular drain. CSF is obtained within 8 weeks of diagnosis but prior to (or concurrent with) the initiation of any post-operative therapy (excluding corticosteroids).

CSF samples are examined for proteomic biomarkers by 2D gel electrophoresis, low-mass fingerprinting, and stable isotope labeling.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 99 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed CNS tumors of any of the following histologies:

  • Diffuse pontine gliomas*

  • Focal/infiltrative tumors, including any of the following:

    • High- and low-grade gliomas
    • Gangliogliomas
    • Ependymomas
    • Oligodendrogliomas
    • Craniopharyngioma
    • Dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors
    • Other low-grade neoplasms

  • Optic pathway gliomas*

  • Seeding tumors, including any of the following:

    • Germ cell tumors (germinomas and nongerminomas)

    • Embryonal tumors, including any of the following:

      • Medulloblastoma
      • Pineoblastoma
      • Supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors
      • Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
      • Other embryonal tumors NOTE: *Histological requirement waived

• Newly diagnosed disease

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained as part of CSF diversion, initial diagnosis/staging, or administration of intrathecal chemotherapy (at the initiation of postoperative therapy)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Less than 22 years of age

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy
• Prior corticosteroids allowed

The study population consists of newly diagnosed pediatric patients with a CNS tumor and no prior irradiation or chemotherapy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is withdrawn as part of initial diagnosis/staging, the administration of intrathecal therapy, or CSF diversion.