Carmustine Followed By Surgery in Treating Patients With Recurrent Supratentorial Malignant Glioma or Metastatic Brain Neoplasm

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed recurrent supratentorial malignant glioma with clear evidence of progression by MRI
• * Glioblastoma multiforme
• * Anaplastic ependymoma
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma OR
• Metastatic tumor to the brain other than melanoma
• Planned resection of tumor (must be first surgery for recurrent disease)
• Tumor volume of each tumor component or residual tumor must be at least 4 cm3 and no greater than 33.4 cm3
• Tumor shape and surrounding structure(s) unlikely to cause an irregular distribution of the injected study drug
• * Tumor is spherical, spheroid, or ovoid
• * No tumors shaped into 3 or more components (e.g., multicentric or multilobulated)
• * No tumors extending into the ventricular system
• * Tumor has an intact stroma (i.e., tumor mass not partially incised or punctured)
• * Central necrosis and/or central cystic areas allowed if an enhancing rim with a thickness of more than 5 mm is present
• No tumors in the following locations of the brain:
• * Brainstem (pons or medulla)
• * Midbrain (mesencephalon)
• * Primary sensorimotor cortex in the dominant hemisphere
• * Within 1.5 cm of the optic chiasm, either optic nerve, or any other cranial nerve
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 to 75
• 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
• No evidence of bleeding diathesis
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min OR
• BUN no greater than 30 mg/dL
• Other:
• No active uncontrolled infection
• Afebrile (37.5 degrees C) unless fever due to tumor
• No other unstable or severe medical condition
• No complicating medical or psychiatric problem that would preclude study
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or Gliadel wafers) and recovered
• No anti-tumor chemotherapy within 12 weeks after study drug unless tumor volume increases by more than 25% by MRI
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No prior intracranial brachytherapy
• No anti-tumor radiotherapy within 12 weeks after study drug unless tumor volume increases by more than 25% by MRI
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior surgery allowed
• No anti-tumor surgery within 12 weeks after study drug
• Other:
• No concurrent anticoagulants
• No other concurrent investigational agents