Carboplatin, Temozolomide, and Filgrastim in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent High-Grade Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma

  * Residual tumor on postoperative MRI
* Bidimensionally measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Under 65

Performance status:

* Karnofsky or Lansky 70-100% OR
* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGPT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

* Age 5 years and under: Creatinine less than 1.2 mg/dL
* Age over 5 to 10 years: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
* Age over 10 to 15 years: Creatinine less than 1.8 mg/dL
* Age over 15 years: Creatinine less than 2.4 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Other:

* No other concurrent serious medical condition that would preclude study
* Able to tolerate oral medications
* No prior malignancy for which patient received prior chemotherapy or spinal irradiation
* No history of severe allergic reaction to platinum-containing compounds
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 72 hours since prior filgrastim (G-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Concurrent steroids for tumor-related cerebral edema allowed
* No concurrent corticosteroids for solely antiemetic purposes

Radiotherapy:

* No prior or concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* Recovered from prior surgery
* No concurrent surgery