Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Recurrent Brain Tumor

Inclusion Criteria

• •Study 1 Arm C:
• •* Currently on anticonvulsants which can induce cytochrome p450 (phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, primidone and if unsure contact study chair)
• •* =\< 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (with maximum of 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease)
• •Study 2 Arms A and B:
• •* On or off anticonvulsants
• •* =\< 2 prior chemotherapy regimens (with maximum of 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease)
• •Study 3 Arms D and E:
• •* On or off anticonvulsants
• •* \> 2 chemotherapy regimens or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for progressive/recurrent disease
• •All Arms:
• •Histological confirmation of a grade 2-4 oligodendroglioma, or mixed oligoastrocytoma grade 2-4 containing oligodendrogliomatous component on central pathology review prior to study registration, and a diagnosis of recurrence; tissues from all available prior surgeries should be sent, in particular those from time of initial diagnosis
• •Measurable or evaluable disease by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan
• •Fixed dose of corticosteroids (or no corticosteroids) for at least 1 week prior to the pre-study baseline scan
• •Patients undergoing surgery for initial or progressive disease, must be at least 2 weeks from the date of surgery, must have recovered from the effects of their surgery, and must have unequivocal tumor growth on the pre-study baseline neuroimaging study as compared to the first post-operative scan, unless there is a separate lesion or residual disease compatible with tumor that is not within the surgical bed
• •Unequivocal evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan performed =\< 21days prior to study registration
• •Must have failed surgery/radiotherapy (RT) and Temozolomide or nitrosourea based therapy
• •\>= 12 weeks since the completion of RT
• •Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1500/mm\^3
• •Platelets (PLT) \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• •Hemoglobin (Hgb) \>= 9 g/dL
• •Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 mg/dL
• •Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\]) =\< 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •Creatinine =\< 2.0 mg/dL
• •Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0, 1, or 2
• •\>= 6 weeks since the last day of nitrosourea-based chemotherapy prior to study entry
• •\>= 4 weeks from any investigational agents prior to study entry
• •\>= 4 weeks from other chemotherapy prior to study entry
• •\>= 2 weeks from vincristine and biologic non-cytotoxic agents, e.g., tamoxifen, thalidomide, cis-retinoic acid, interferon, etc, prior to study entry
• •Patients or designated individual(s) with durable medical power of attorney for the patient must be able to provide informed, written consent, and complete any required study questionnaire(s) within the specifications of this study