Evaluation of Biological, Immunological and Therapeutic Parameters in Brain Tumor Patients

This protocol involves the study of human brain tumor cells outside the body in the laboratory as part of an attempt to better understand these tumors and to develop more effective therapeutic measures. Malignant primary brain tumor patients at present have a life expectancy of approximately 15 weeks following surgery unless other adjunctive measures are taken. With currently available adjunctive therapy the life expectancy reaches 50 weeks. These survival data have spurred extensive efforts to develop new treatment modalities. Radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been mildly helpful adjuncts but their use has been largely on empirical grounds or on the basis of experimentation on animal tumor models often quite different in nature from human brain tumors. Our group has sought to develop data upon which to devise new treatment strategies for patients with malignant brain tumors. The foundation of our approach rests upon the use of in vitro studies of the cell biology of each patient's tumor. It is our plan to utilize these tumors for in vitro investigation of the immunology, biology, biochemistry and molecular biology of brain tumors. Optimal conventional therapy will be given to the patients as we seek to learn more of how the scientific information obtained can be used to help them.