CCI-779 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

You may be eligible if

• Histologically confirmed grade 4 astrocytoma at primary diagnosis or recurrence
• * Gliosarcoma allowed
• Evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan after radiotherapy or first-line chemotherapy
• Measurable or evaluable disease by MRI or CT scan
• Performance status - ECOG 0-2
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure requiring ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias
• Cholesterol no greater than 350 mg/dL
• Triglycerides no greater than 400 mg/dL
• Willing to provide correlative laboratory samples
• No uncontrolled infection
• No known hypersensitivity to any components of CCI-779, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, or other similar antihistamines
• No other medical reason that would preclude diphenhydramine premedication
• No other active malignancy
• No other severe disease that would preclude study participation
• Not immunocompromised unless due to corticosteroids
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• See Disease Characteristics
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent/progressive disease
• No prior polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel)
• Must be on fixed dose of corticosteroids (or no corticosteroids) at least 1 week prior to baseline scan
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 12 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior stereotactic radiosurgery or interstitial brachytherapy unless there is a separate lesion on MRI that is outside of the previously treated field
• No prior resection since last chemotherapy or radiotherapy unless there is unequivocal tumor growth on neuro-imaging study since surgery or there is a separate lesion not present in the surgical bed
• More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents