Temozolomide Compared to Procarbazine, Lomustine, and Vincristine in Treating Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma

OBJECTIVES: * Compare the efficacy of temozolomide vs procarbazine, lomustine, and vincristine, in terms of overall survival, in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. * Compare progression-free survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare progression-free survival at 12 weeks in patients treated with two different schedules of temozolomide. * Compare the overall survival of patients treated with two different schedules of temozolomide. * Compare toxic effects of two different schedules of temozolomide in these patients. * Compare quality of life of patients treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I:Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment schedules: * Schedule 1: Patients receive oral temozolomide once daily on days 1-5. * Schedule 2:Patients receive oral temozolomide once daily on days 1-21. Treatment on both schedules repeats every 4 weeks for a maximum of 9 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II:Patients receive oral lomustine and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral procarbazine on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 6 weeks for a maximum of 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Quality of life is assessed at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks. Patients are followed every 12 weeks. Peer Reviewed and Funded or Endorsed by Cancer Research UK PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 500 patients (250 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.