CC-5013 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* One of the following:

  * Histologically confirmed high-grade glioma

    * Glioblastoma multiforme
    * Gliosarcoma
    * Anaplastic astrocytoma
    * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
    * Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma
    * Malignant glioma/astrocytoma, not otherwise specified
    * Meningioma
    * Hemangioblastoma
    * Ependymoma
    * Primitive neuroectodermal tumors
    * Hemangiopericytoma
    * Progressive glioma
  * Clinically and radiographically diagnosed brain stem glioma
* Progressive or recurrent disease as determined by CT scan or MRI

  * Biopsy allowed for prior recent (i.e., within the past 12 weeks) resection of recurrent or progressive tumor
* Must have failed prior radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* More than 8 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 2,300/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 90,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusions allowed)

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT less than 3 times ULN
* No significant active hepatic disease

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
* No significant active renal disease

Cardiovascular:

* No significant active cardiac disease

Other:

* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No significant active psychiatric disease
* 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 2 weeks since prior interferon
* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas
* At least 4 weeks since prior temozolomide or carboplatin
* At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
* At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine
* At least 4 weeks since other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 2 weeks since prior tamoxifen
* Concurrent steroids allowed for control of the signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure if on a stable dose for at least the past 5 days

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior tumor resection

Other:

* At least 2 weeks since other prior noncytotoxic agents
* Concurrent enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs allowed
* No concurrent rifampin
* No concurrent grapefruit juice
* No other concurrent investigational agents