Carmustine Followed By Surgery in Treating Patients With Recurrent Supratentorial Malignant Glioma or Metastatic Brain Neoplasm

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed recurrent supratentorial malignant glioma with clear evidence of progression by MRI

  * Glioblastoma multiforme
  * Anaplastic ependymoma
  * Anaplastic astrocytoma
  * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma OR
* Metastatic tumor to the brain other than melanoma
* Planned resection of tumor (must be first surgery for recurrent disease)
* Tumor volume of each tumor component or residual tumor must be at least 4 cm3 and no greater than 33.4 cm3
* Tumor shape and surrounding structure(s) unlikely to cause an irregular distribution of the injected study drug

  * Tumor is spherical, spheroid, or ovoid
  * No tumors shaped into 3 or more components (e.g., multicentric or multilobulated)
  * No tumors extending into the ventricular system
  * Tumor has an intact stroma (i.e., tumor mass not partially incised or punctured)
  * Central necrosis and/or central cystic areas allowed if an enhancing rim with a thickness of more than 5 mm is present
* No tumors in the following locations of the brain:

  * Brainstem (pons or medulla)
  * Midbrain (mesencephalon)
  * Primary sensorimotor cortex in the dominant hemisphere
  * Within 1.5 cm of the optic chiasm, either optic nerve, or any other cranial nerve

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 to 75

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* No evidence of bleeding diathesis

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
* SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min OR
* BUN no greater than 30 mg/dL

Other:

* No active uncontrolled infection
* Afebrile (37.5 degrees C) unless fever due to tumor
* No other unstable or severe medical condition
* No complicating medical or psychiatric problem that would preclude study
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or Gliadel wafers) and recovered
* No anti-tumor chemotherapy within 12 weeks after study drug unless tumor volume increases by more than 25% by MRI

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* No prior intracranial brachytherapy
* No anti-tumor radiotherapy within 12 weeks after study drug unless tumor volume increases by more than 25% by MRI

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior surgery allowed
* No anti-tumor surgery within 12 weeks after study drug

Other:

* No concurrent anticoagulants
* No other concurrent investigational agents