Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed unresectable primary, recurrent, or residual benign
meningioma

- Measurable disease by CT scan or MRI

- Must have disease progression within the past 10 years OR progressive neurologic
deficit within the past 6 months

- Must have undergone prior radiotherapy with subsequent disease progression OR refused
radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- SWOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 4,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least lower limit of normal

Hepatic:

- Not specified

Renal:

- Not specified

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated
stage I or II cancer in complete remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for meningioma

- Prior mifepristone allowed

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Concurrent glucocorticoids and hormone replacement therapy allowed if stable dose
maintained for at least 72 hours prior to CT scan or MRI

- No concurrent antitumor hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

- Not specified