EMD 121974 in Treating Patients With Progressive or Recurrent Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed malignant glioma that is progressive or recurrent after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
• * Eligible subtypes:
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
• * Glioblastoma multiforme
• * Prior low-grade glioma that has progressed to a high-grade glioma (by biopsy) after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy allowed
• Measurable disease by volumetric and magnetic resonance perfusion scan
• Prior biopsy or resection of recurrent brain tumor allowed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• No advanced coronary artery disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No serious concurrent infection or medical illness that would preclude study
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated carcinoma in situ or basal cell skin cancer
• No history of wound healing disorders
• No peptic ulcer disease within the past year
• Mini mental score of at least 15
• Willing and able to undergo MRI
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF)
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
• Endocrine therapy:
• Prior corticosteroids allowed if on stable dose for at least 5 days prior to study
• Concurrent corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) allowed as clinically needed
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 week since prior surgery and recovered
• No concurrent elective surgery or dental extractions
• Other:
• No other concurrent investigational agents