Temozolomide and O6-benzylguanine in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Recurrent, or Progressive Anaplastic Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Part I:

  * Histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma (closed to accrual 12/19/2000)
* Parts I and II:

  * Histologically confirmed astrocytic, oligodendroglial, or mixed glial tumor

    * Grade III or higher
    * Recurrent or progressive after radiotherapy
* Evaluable residual disease by contrast-enhanced MRI or CT scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Bilirubin normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
* BUN no greater than 25 mg/dL

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 6 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

* At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (including but not limited to topotecan) and recovered

  * Patients in trials with one of the following treatment combinations are allowed to enroll 6 weeks after receiving carmustine (BCNU):

    * BCNU on day 1
    * BCNU on day 1 and topotecan on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36
    * BCNU on day 1 and irinotecan on days 1, 8, 15, and 22

Endocrine therapy:

* Patients on corticosteroids must be on a stable dose for at least 2 weeks before study
* At least 6 weeks since other prior endocrine therapy and recovered

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Not specified