Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

- Histologically proven malignant glioma including any of the following:

- Glioblastoma multiforme

- Gliosarcoma

- Anaplastic astrocytoma

- Anaplastic oligodendroglioma

- Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma

- Malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified

- Unequivocal evidence of tumor recurrence or progression by MRI or CT scan with
contrast

- No more than one relapse

- Patients having undergone recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor will be
eligible as long as all of the following conditions apply:

- More than 2 weeks from surgery and have recovered from the effects of surgery

- Evaluable or measurable disease following resection of recurrent tumor is not
mandated for eligibility into the study if a treatment failure can be evaluated

- Enhanced CT scan/ MRI should be done no later than 96 hours in the immediate
post-operative period or 4-6 weeks post-operatively

- If the 96-hour scan is more than 2 weeks from registration, the scan needs
to be repeated

- A baseline scan should be performed within 14 days prior to registration
and on a steroid dosage that has been stable for 5 or more days otherwise a
new baseline MRI/CT is required

- The same type of scan (i.e., MRI or CT scan) must be used throughout the
period of protocol treatment for tumor measurement

- Must have failed prior external-beam radiotherapy

- Must have failed one prior systemic treatment with chemotherapy or biologic agents

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Inclusion criteria:

- Karnofsky performance status 60-100%

- Life expectancy > 12 weeks

- WBC > 3,000/mm³

- ANC > 1,500/mm³

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm³

- Hemoglobin > 10 mg/dL

- AST and ALT < 4 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Bilirubin < 2 times ULN

- Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN

- Fertile patients must use acceptable contraceptive methods (abstinence, intrauterine
device [IUD], oral contraceptive or double barrier device)

- Negative pregnancy test

- Not pregnant or nursing

Exclusion criteria:

- Active uncontrolled bleeding

- Active infection of any kind

- Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements or to give informed consent

- Active heart disease including any of the following:

- Myocardial infarction within the past 3 months

- Uncontrolled arrhythmias

- Uncontrolled coronary artery disease

- Uncontrolled congestive heart failure

- Known HIV-positive patients (HIV testing is not required)

- History of any other cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in-situ of
the cervix) unless in complete remission and off all therapy for that disease for a
minimum of 3 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Inclusion criteria:

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior therapy

- At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine

- More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)

- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- More than 4 weeks since prior experimental biologic agents (e.g., EGFR inhibitors,
etc)

- More than 3 weeks since prior procarbazine administration

- More than 2 weeks since prior non-cytotoxic agents (e.g., interferon, tamoxifen,
thalidomide, or isotretinoin)

- Radiosensitizer does not count

- At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent enzyme inducing anticonvulsants

- If patient is on an enzyme inducing anticonvulsant, they may be converted to a
non-enzyme inducing anticonvulsant

Exclusion criteria:

- Any other concurrent standard or investigational treatment for cancer, or any other
investigational agent for any indication

- Concurrent disulfiram