Taurolidine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, or gliosarcoma Recurrent or progressive disease after prior cytoreductive surgery, radiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy Ineligible for any additional conventional therapeutic intervention

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL AST/ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal No indication of acute hepatitis or parenchymal liver disease No significant hepatic disease that would preclude study Renal: Creatinine less than 1.7 mg/dL No significant renal disease that would preclude study Cardiovascular: No significant cardiac disease that would preclude study Other: HIV negative No other active malignancy except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell skin cancer No significant psychiatric disease that would preclude study No significant gastrointestinal disease that would preclude study No known hypersensitivity to taurolidine or its excipients Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 2 weeks since prior interferon Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine At least 3 weeks since prior temozolomide or procarbazine At least 4 weeks since prior nitrosoureas Concurrent polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel wafers) allowed Endocrine therapy: At least 2 weeks since prior tamoxifen Concurrent corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior stereotactic radiosurgery Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: Recovered from prior therapy At least 30 days since prior investigational drug At least 2 weeks since other prior noncytotoxic agents No other concurrent experimental agent or protocol