Resectable Brain Neoplasm

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects and best dose of AdV-HSV1-TK and AdV-Flt3L in combination with valacyclovir for the treatment of patients with primary cancerous (malignant) brain tumors that can be removed by surgery (resectable) and that have come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). AdV-HSV1-TK and AdV-Flt3L use a virus modified in the laboratory to kill tumor cells and stimulate the immune system to recognize the tumor cells as "invaders" which can lead to tumor shrinkage. For this process to work, an oral anti-herpes medication called valacyclovir is also needed. Giving AdV-HSV1-TK, AdV-Flt3L and valacyclovir may be safe, tolerable and/or effective in treating patients with resectable, recurrent primary malignant brain tumors.

This study will investigate the tumor-associated vasculature of patients with solid tumors. The investigators will use a technology known as intravital microscopy (IVM) in order to visualize in real-time the vessels associated with solid tumors. The IVM observations may determine if an individual patient's tumor vessels would be amenable to receiving systemic therapy, based on the functionality of the vessels.