Pyrazoloacridine Plus Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary brain glioma
• * Diffuse astrocytoma
• * Gliosarcoma
• * Oligodendroglioma
• * Oligoastrocytoma
• Progressive disease after radiotherapy
• Measurable or evaluable disease by MRI or CT
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure requiring therapy
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No uncontrolled infection
• No other active malignancy
• No other concurrent severe disease
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• No more than 1 prior adjuvant chemotherapy regimen
• No prior polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel wafer)
• Study 3 only:
• * 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease allowed
• * Prior nonplatinum-containing adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• * Prior platinum-containing adjuvant chemotherapy allowed if disease progressed at least 6 months after last treatment
• Endocrine therapy:
• Non-increasing dose of corticosteroids for at least 1 week allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 12 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior stereotactic radiosurgery or interstitial brachytherapy unless at least one lesion outside of irradiated area
• Surgery:
• No surgical resection since prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy unless evidence of disease progression or lesion outside of treatment site
• Other:
• Study 1 only: (Study 1 closed as of 03/29/02)
• * Must be on anticonvulsants that can induce cytochrome P-450 (phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, or primidone)
• Study 2 only: (Study 2 closed as of 03/29/02)
• * No concurrent anticonvulsants