Gliadel Wafer and O6-Benzylguanine in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as Gliadel wafer and O6-benzylguanine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving Gliadel wafer together with O6-benzylguanine works in treating patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.

OBJECTIVES: * Define the activity of Gliadel® wafers in combination with a 5-day infusion of O6-benzylguanine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. * Define the toxicity of Gliadel® wafers in combination with 5-day infusion of O6-benzylguanine in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. OUTLINE: This is an open-label study. Patients undergo surgical resection of tumor followed by placement of Gliadel® wafers . Within 6 hours after completion of surgery, patients receive a 1 hour high dose infusion of O6-benzylguanine followed by a lower dose continuous infusion for 5 days. Every 48 hours a repeat infusion of the high dose over 1 hour will be administered for a total of 3 doses. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 8 weeks. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 50 patients should be accrued for this study.