Combination Chemotherapy Plus Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With CNS Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven newly diagnosed CNS tumors Eligible tumor types: Glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV) Anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) Anaplastic oligodendroglioma (WHO grade III) Mixed anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (WHO grade III) Incompletely resected ependymoma Diffusely intrinsic pontine or medullary glioma Histology requirement waived OR Histologically proven recurrent or progressive CNS tumors Eligible tumor types: Same as above plus oligodendroglioma (WHO grade II) No brainstem tumors arising from the cervicomedullary region or midbrain without histologic proof of malignancy No supratentorial low grade astrocytomas (WHO grade I or II) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 5 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 (transfusion independent) Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL at time of pulmonary function testing Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.2 mg/dL SGOT or SGPT less than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR greater than 70 mL/min Pulmonary: FEV1, FVC, and/or DLCO greater than 60% predicted Children who are uncooperative with pulmonary function tests must have the following: No evidence of dyspnea at rest No exercise intolerance Oxygen saturation (by pulse oximetry) greater than 94% on room air Other: Minimum weight of 10 kg Not pregnant or nursing N…