Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed (except if medically contraindicated) severe pediatric brain
tumor that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative
therapy exists

- Histology requirement may be waived for brain stem tumors

- Measurable tumor by MRI or CT scan

- Tumor must be at least 5 mm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 6 months to 17 years

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC greater than 2000/mm^3

- Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

- No hepatic failure

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL

- No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

- No severe heart disease

- No history of heart failure

- No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of
sodium

- No uncontrolled hypertension

Pulmonary:

- No severe lung disease

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
participation

- No serious active infections or fever

- No other serious concurrent disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy

- No concurrent immunomodulating agents

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

- No concurrent antineoplastic agents

Endocrine therapy:

- Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed (must be on stable dose for at
least 1 week before study entry)

Radiation therapy:

- At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- Recovered from any prior surgery

Other:

- No prior antineoplaston therapy