Temozolomide Plus Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent glioblastoma multiforme Measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count greater than 1,500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No congestive heart failure requiring therapy Other: HIV negative No active or uncontrolled infection No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No frequent vomiting No medical condition that would interfere with oral medication intake (e.g., partial bowel obstruction) No known or suspected psychiatric disorder that would preclude study No other severe concurrent disease that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF) No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) Chemotherapy: No prior temozolomide No prior platinum-based chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Recovered from prior major surgery No more than 2 weeks since prior subtotal tumor resection Other: Recovered from prior therapy No other concurrent investigational drugs