Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma or Meningioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed recurrent or unresectable malignant glioma
• * Glioblastoma multiforme (phase I only)
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
• * Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma
• * Malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified
• * Gliosarcoma
• * Low-grade histology with subsequent diagnosis of malignant glioma allowed (phase I only) OR
• Histologically confirmed recurrent or unresectable benign or malignant meningioma (phase I only)
• No prior intracranial hemorrhage
• Failed prior radiotherapy
• Progressive or recurrent disease by MRI or CT scan and/or resection
• * PET or thallium scan, MR spectroscopy, or surgical documentation required in patients who have received prior interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery
• * Stable dose of steroids for 5-7 days prior to MRI or CT scan
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• More than 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT less than 2 times ULN
• No significant hepatic disease
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• No significant renal disease
• Cardiovascular:
• No significant cardiac disease
• No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 6 weeks
• Pulmonary:
• No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 weeks
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for up to 6 months after study participation
• No other serious concurrent medical illness
• No serious active infection
• No concurrent disease that would obscure toxicity or alter drug metabolism
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 1 week since prior interferon or thalidomide and recovered
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)
• Chemotherapy:
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine
• At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas
• At least 4 weeks since prior temozolomide
• At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
• Prior polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel wafer) allowed
• Prior radiosensitizers allowed
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Phase I only:
• * Prior chemotherapy required for anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, and anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma
• * Prior treatment for up to 3 relapses allowed
• Phase II only:
• * Prior chemotherapy not required
• * Prior treatment for up to 2 relapses allowed
• Endocrine therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen and recovered
• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgical resection of recurrent or progressive disease
• Other:
• At least 1 week since prior non-cytotoxic agents and recovered
• At least 1 week since prior tretinoin and recovered
• At least 2 weeks since prior drugs that affect hepatic metabolism
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent warfarin