Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Gliomas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme

  * Recurrent disease by CT scan or MRI
  * No prior chemotherapy OR
  * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in adjuvant setting or for recurrent disease OR
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed anaplastic oligodendroglioma, mixed oligoastrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, or recurrent low-grade astrocytoma

  * Failed prior radiotherapy
  * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

    * Failed adjuvant chemotherapy OR
    * Failed first-line chemotherapy
* At least 1 bidimensionally measurable target lesion

  * At least 2 cm on contrast-enhanced CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.7 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

* Cardiac function normal
* No ischemic heart disease within the past 6 months
* Normal 12-lead ECG

Other:

* No other prior or concurrent malignancy except cone-biopsied carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
* No unstable systemic disease
* No active uncontrolled infection
* No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent anticancer biologic agents
* No concurrent cytokines (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\])

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea)
* No concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Must be on stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids for at least 2 weeks

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 months since prior brain irradiation
* No prior high-dose radiotherapy (more than 65 Gy), stereotactic radiosurgery, or internal radiotherapy unless the recurrence is histologically confirmed
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* Prior surgery for primary brain tumor within the past 3 months allowed provided one of the following conditions are present:

  * Postoperative imaging within 72 hours after surgery shows a clearly limited target lesion of at least 2 cm
  * Postoperative follow-up shows a progressive and measurable target lesion
  * A second measurable target lesion is present outside the surgical area

Other:

* No concurrent warfarin or other anticoagulants
* No other concurrent anticancer agents
* No other concurrent investigational agents