Chemotherapy and Vaccine Therapy Followed by Bone Marrow or Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation and Interleukin-2 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Brain Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed active recurrent or refractory primary high-grade brain tumor

  * Tumor must be surgically accessible
* Bidimensionally measurable disease by clinical exam, CT scan, or x-ray

  * Disease must be outside a previously irradiated field or have progressed or developed after radiotherapy
  * Previously treated metastatic bony lesions are not considered measurable
  * No previously irradiated metastatic disease site unless no response or clear progression on imaging

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 65 and under

Performance status:

* CALGB 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Liver function less than 2.5 times normal unless due to disease
* No active hepatitis B or C

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* Left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50% by MUGA or 2-D echocardiogram
* Electrocardiogram normal

Pulmonary:

* FEV1 and DLCO greater than 50% predicted OR
* Clearance by pulmonologist

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* HIV negative
* No serious underlying co-morbid disease or other medical or psychiatric factor that would preclude study
* Able to be weaned off steroids after surgery

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* Recovered from prior conventional chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent steroid therapy for mass effect

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior conventional radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics