Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary or Metastatic Brain Cancers

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically proven primary or metastatic malignant supratentorial anaplastic glioma

  * Newly diagnosed or recurrent
  * No diffusely infiltrating or multifocal tumor
  * No tumor with subependymal spread
* Resection of glioma and placement of an intralesional catheter into the surgical cavity required before study
* Measurable lesion on enhanced CT scan or MRI

  * No measurable enhancing lesion greater than 1.0 cm beyond cavity margin
* Neoplastic cell reactivity with tenascin demonstrated by immunohistology with either a polyclonal rabbit antibody or a monoclonal murine antibody

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 3 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 50-100%

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
* AST less than 1.5 times normal
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 1.5 times normal

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.2 mg/dL

Other:

* Not pregnant
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy unless unequivocal evidence of tumor progression

Endocrine therapy:

* Corticosteroids allowed if at lowest possible dose and dose stable for at least 10 days prior to entry

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy to site of measurable disease unless unequivocal evidence of tumor progression

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics