S9811 Hydroxyurea in Treating Patients With Unresectable Benign Meningioma

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