Sirolimus in Treating Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed intracranial glioblastoma multiforme
* Disease progression by MRI or CT scan

  * Confirmation of true progressive disease (not radiation necrosis) by positron-emission tomography, thallium scanning, MRI, or surgical documentation required if patient received prior interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery
* Failed prior radiotherapy
* Phase I patients:

  * Eligible for salvage surgery
  * No limits on prior therapy
* Phase II patients:

  * Tumor progression by MRI or CT scan required within the past 14 days if recurrent disease is present
  * No prior therapy for more than 3 relapses
  * Recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor allowed as long as all of the following conditions apply:

    * Recovered from surgery
    * MRI or CT scan performed no more than 96 hours since prior surgery OR within 4-6 weeks after surgery
    * Baseline MRI or CT scan performed within 14 days of study entry

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

* More than 8 weeks

Hematopoietic

* WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT less than 1.5 times ULN

Renal

* Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL

Other

* Cholesterol less than 350 mg/dL
* Triglycerides less than 400 mg/dL
* No concurrent disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
* No other significant uncontrolled serious medical illness that would preclude study participation
* No other cancer except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix unless patient is in complete remission and off all therapy for that disease for at least 3 years
* No active infection
* No prior allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to sirolimus
* No psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* At least 1 week since prior interferon

Chemotherapy

* At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine
* At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
* At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas

Endocrine therapy

* At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics

Other

* Recovered from prior therapy
* At least 1 week since prior noncytotoxic agents (except radiosensitizers)