Tumor Tissue Analysis in Patients Receiving Imatinib Mesylate for Malignant Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed malignant glioma of 1 of the following subtypes:
• * Low-grade glioma
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
• * Glioblastoma multiforme
• Unifocal disease that is progressive or recurrent after prior radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy
• Scheduled to undergo surgical resection
• * Able to undergo maximal surgical resection of tumor mass
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
• Mini Mental Status Exam ≥ 15
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Creatinine ≥ 1.7 mg/dL
• BUN ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Transaminases ≤ 4 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment
• No other medical illness that would preclude study treatment, including any of the following:
• * Serious infection
• * Uncontrolled hypertension
• * Unstable angina pectoris
• * Uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmia
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from all prior therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
• No concurrent chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiotherapy
• No concurrent medications that may interact with imatinib mesylate or interfere with hepatic cytochrome P450 system