Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven glioblastoma multiforme for which conventional radiotherapy
would be of little or no benefit

- Gross total resection of tumor confirmed by postoperative MRI performed within 48
hours of surgery

- Evaluable preoperative and postoperative MRI films with and without contrast must be
available

- No prior brain malignancy

- No prior craniotomy except for glioblastoma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 50 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Not specified

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal
unless caused by reversible reaction to antiseizure medication

Renal:

- Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Cardiovascular:

- No severe heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure, angina pectoris)

Pulmonary:

- No severe dyspnea at time of diagnosis

- No severe obstructive or restrictive lung disease

Other:

- No other concurrent malignant tumor

- No severe gastrointestinal disease or active peptic ulcer disease

- No uncontrolled endocrine disease

- No serious mental disease, organic brain disease (e.g., preexisting epilepsy or
serious aphasia), or legally incapacitated patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior biologic therapy for glioblastoma multiforme

- No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme

- No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- No prior endocrine therapy for glioblastoma multiforme except corticosteroids

- No concurrent endocrine therapy

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior radiotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme

- No prior radiotherapy to head and neck

- No other concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Prior stereotactic biopsy allowed for glioblastoma multiforme