Memantine in Preventing Side Effects in Patients Undergoing Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy for Brain Metastases From Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor malignancy within the past 5 years

* If the original histologic proof of malignancy is \> 5 years, then pathological (i.e., more recent) confirmation is required (e.g., from a systemic metastasis or brain metastasis)
* Brain metastases must be visible on contrast-enhanced MRI or a contrast enhanced CT scan (for patients unable to undergo MRI within the past 28 days)

* Patients unable to undergo MRI imaging because of non-compatible devices are eligible, provided the contrast-enhanced CT scans are obtained and are of sufficient quality
* Patients who had undergone radiosurgery or surgical resection and are planning adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy do not have to have visible disease but do need a baseline MRI
* Must have stable systemic disease (i.e. no evidence of systemic disease progression within the past 3 months)
* Patients with brain metastases at initial presentation are eligible and do not need to demonstrate 3 months of stable scans

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion

* Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
* Serum creatinine ≤ 3 mg/dL and creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min
* Total bilirubin ≤ 2.5 mg/dL
* Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) \< 20 mg/dL
* Mini-mental status exam score ≥ 18
* Negative serum pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must practice adequate contraception

Exclusion

* Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

* Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
* Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
* Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of registration
* Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects
* Pregnant or lactating women
* Prior allergic reaction to memantine hydrochloride
* Current alcohol or drug abuse
* Intractable seizures while on adequate anticonvulsant therapy (i.e., more than one seizure per month for the past 2 months)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Inclusion

* At least 14 days but no more than 56 days since prior therapy for brain metastasis, including radiosurgery and surgical resection
* No systemic chemotherapy for 14 days prior, during, or for 14 days after completion of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT)

Exclusion

* Prior cranial radiotherapy

* Patients may have received up to 3 prior WBRT treatments and still be registered and randomized on the protocol provided WBRT parameters meet protocol requirements
* Chronic short-acting benzodiazepine use