Erlotinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma or Recurrent or Progressive Meningioma

Inclusion Criteria:

* One of the following diagnoses:

  * Histologically confirmed intracranial malignant glioma

    * Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma, or malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified
    * Original histology of low-grade glioma allowed provided a subsequent histology of malignant glioma is confirmed
  * Histologically or radiographically confirmed recurrent or progressive benign or malignant meningioma
* Progressive disease or tumor recurrence on MRI or CT scan

  * Phase I: No more than 3 prior relapses and no more than 2 prior chemotherapy\* or biologic therapy regimens
  * Phase II: No more than 2 prior relapses and no more than 2 prior chemotherapy\* or biologic therapy regimens
* Patients with progressive disease must have failed prior radiotherapy\* that was completed at least 4 weeks ago

  * Patients with progressive disease between 4 and 12 weeks after completion of external beam radiotherapy must have clear evidence of progression on MRI
  * Patients with GBM who have completed external beam radiotherapy and do not show progression are eligible
  * Patients with progressive disease after interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery must have confirmed true progression rather than radiation necrosis based upon positron-emission tomography, thallium scanning, MRI, or surgical documentation
* Measurable or evaluable disease
* Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
* More than 8 weeks
* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 mg/dL (transfusion allowed)
* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN
* Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL
* None of the following ophthalmic abnormalities:

  * Abnormalities of the cornea (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome)
  * Congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
  * Abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
  * Abnormal corneal sensitivity test (Schirmer test or similar tear production test)
* Patients found to have dry eyes on examination but have an otherwise normal examination allowed
* No active infection
* No other serious concurrent medical illness
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No other disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
* No significant medical illness that would preclude study participation
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 12 weeks after study participation
* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 1 week since prior thalidomide
* At least 1 week since prior interferon
* At least 4 weeks since prior SU5416 or other experimental biologic agents
* See Disease Characteristics
* No prior chemotherapy (including polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant \[Gliadel wafers\]) for patients with stable GBM
* At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine
* At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
* At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas
* At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen
* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior radiotherapy
* No more than 6 weeks since prior external beam radiotherapy for patients with GBM without evidence of progression
* Recovered from prior surgery
* Recovered from prior therapy
* At least 1 week since prior noncytotoxic agents (e.g., isotretinoin) except radiosensitizers
* At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy
* At least 4 weeks since prior tipifarnib or imatinib mesylate
* No prior erlotinib or other epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients