Topotecan and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Malignant Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed recurrent or progressive supratentorial glioblastoma or anaplastic astrocytoma
• Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan
• No gliomatosis cerebri, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, or anaplastic oligoastrocytoma
• Concurrent registration for the System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety (S.T.E.P.S.) program
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Over 18
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC greater than 4,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.6 mg/dL
• Other:
• No other concurrent malignancy except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception 1 month prior to, during, and for 1 month after study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens in adjuvant or metastatic setting
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• Concurrent anticonvulsants allowed