Phase II Randomized Evaluation of 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibition by Herbal Complementary and Alternative Medicine Approach Compared to Control as an Adjuvant Therapy in Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent High-grade Gliomas

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To determine whether a herbal approach to decreasing 5-LO eicosanoid production reduces peritumoral brain edema in patients with HGG. Secondary * To determine if this adjuvant approach improves the quality of life and progression free and overall survival of patients with HGG. OUTLINE: This a randomized, controlled study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I (intervention): Patients receive oral Boswellia serrata herbal extract 4 times a day and oral cyanocobalamin (vitamin B-12) once a day for 6 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II (control): Patients receive oral vitamin B-12 once a day for 6 months. All patients are encouraged to eat a regular balanced diet (as recommended by the American Cancer Society for cancer prevention) with limited consumption of red and processed meats. Quality of life will be assessed at baseline and then at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months. After completion of study treatment, patients will be followed every 6 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 70 patients (35 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.