A Phase II Study of Pegylated Interferon Alfa 2b (PEG-Intron(Trademark)) in Children With Diffuse Pontine Gliomas

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Age: Patients must be less than or equal to 21 years of age.

Histological diagnosis: Histologic confirmation is not required for this study. Patients must have a diffuse pontine glioma as diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) criteria below.

Radiographic Appearance: Patients must have a diffuse intrinsic tumor with the epicenter presumed to be in the pons. The T-2 weighted sequence must reveal a diffuse signal abnormality involving at least 50 percent of the pons.

Prior therapy: The patient must have received adequate radiation therapy. (Radiation must be completed between 2-10 weeks prior to the start of treatment with Peg-Intron (TM).

Performance status: Patients should have an Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, 2, or 3 (see below). Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheel chair will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of calculating the performance score.

ECOG Performance Status:

Score--Clinical Status

0--Asymptomatic

1. -Symptomatic, fully ambulatory
2. -Symptomatic, in bed less than 50 percent of the day
3. -Symptomatic, in bed greater than 50 percent of the day but not bedridden
4. -Bedridden

   Hematological function: Patients must have adequate bone marrow function defined as a peripheral absolute granulocyte count of greater than 1000/mm\^3, hemoglobin greater than 8 gm/dL, and platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3. Patients may be transfused with red blood cells (RBC's) or platelets to achieve these parameters.

   Hepatic function: Patients must have adequate liver function, defined as total bilirubin less than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal, direct bilirubin within normal limits, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) less than 2.0 times the upper limit of normal. Patients with Gilbert Syndrome are excluded from both the total and direct bilirubin requirements. (Gilbert Syndrome is found in 3-10 percent of the general population and is characterized by mild, chronic hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of liver disease or overt hemolysis.)

   Renal function: Patients must have an age-adjusted normal serum creatinine (see below) OR a creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 mL/min/1.73 m\^2.

   Age (Years)---Maximum Serum Creatinine (mg/dl)

   less than or equal to 5---0.8

   greater than 5 and less than or equal to 10---1.0

   greater than 10 less than or equal to 15---1.2

   greater than 15---1.5

   Steroids: Patients on steroids must be on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids for greater than or equal to 1 week prior to study entry.

   Informed consent: All patients or their legal guardians (if the patient is less than 18 years old) or DPA must sign a document of informed consent indicating their understanding of the investigational nature and the risks of this study. When appropriate, pediatric patients will be included in all discussions in order to obtain verbal assent.

   Durable Power of Attorney (DPA): Assignment of DPA to a family member or guardian should be offered to all patients 18 to 21 years of age.

   EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

   Patients with known or suspected neurofibromatosis-1

   Patients who have received prior chemotherapy, including radiosensitizers, or who are currently receiving other investigational chemotherapeutic agents

   Patients with a known hypersensitivity to interferon-alpha

   Pregnant or breast-feeding females are excluded because the effects of pegylated interferon alfa-2b (PEG-Intron (TM)) on the unborn fetus are unknown.

   Patients with clinically significant unrelated systemic illness (including autoimmune disease, serious infections or significant cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or other organ dysfunction) which in the judgment of the Principal or Associate Investigators would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate this therapy or are likely to interfere with the study procedures or results.