A Phase I Study of a Recombinant Chimeric Protein Composed of Circularly Permuted IL-4 and a Mutated Form of the Pseudomonas Exotoxin Termed IL-4(38-37)-PE38KDEL (IL-4 Toxin) for the Treatment of Recurrent Malignant Astrocytoma

Study start date: March 1, 1999

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven recurrent glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma Stereotactically accessible, enhancing mass no greater than 50 mL total volume by MRI No significant mass effect Recent craniotomy allowed No anaplastic oligodendroglioma No tumors of the brainstem, cerebellum, or both hemispheres No diffuse subependymal or CSF disease If on stable or increasing dose of steroid, must have evidence of increasing contrast enhancement by MRI or CT scan Prior external beam radiotherapy required PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9.5 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2 mg/dL AST and ALT less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) PT/PTT no greater than ULN Renal: Creatinine less than 2 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No systemic diseases to cause unacceptable anesthetic/operative risk No active infection requiring treatment No unexplained febrile illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent blood or platelet transfusions Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Medically able to undergo surgery Other: No other concurrent investigational agents