Phase II Study of Suramin and Concurrent Radiation Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme
No prior intracranial or intratumoral hemorrhage

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life
expectancy: Greater than 2 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least
1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL No history of a
bleeding disorder that would interfere with protocol therapy Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater
than 1.5 mg/dL Transaminases no greater than 4 times upper limit of normal Renal:
Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No suspected disseminated
intravascular coagulation No history of venous thrombosis requiring coumadin Other: No
serious concurrent infection or other medical illness that would prevent compliance No
other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer
or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile
patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy or biologic agents
(e.g., immunotoxins, immunoconjugates, antisense, peptide receptor antagonists,
interferons, interleukins, lymphokine activated killer cells, tumor infiltrating
lymphocytes, or gene therapy) for brain tumor Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for
brain tumor Endocrine therapy: No prior hormonal therapy for brain tumor Prior
glucocorticoids allowed Maintenance 5 day stable corticosteroid regimen required
postsurgery Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy for brain tumor Surgery: Prior surgery for
brain tumor allowed if recovered from the immediate post operative period