Thalidomide, Celecoxib, and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Malignant Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed intracranial malignant glioma, including glioblastoma multiforme, gliosarcoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma, or malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified
* Unequivocal evidence of relapsed or refractory disease by MRI or CT scan and/or tumor resection

  * Steroid therapy prior to MRI or CT scan must have been at a stable dose for at least 5 days
  * Failed prior radiotherapy

    * Must have confirmation of true progression rather than radiation necrosis if previously treated with interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

* More than 2 months

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
* Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL
* No history of bleeding disorder

Hepatic

* Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
* SGPT less than 2.5 times normal
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times normal

Renal

* Creatinine less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR
* BUN less than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

* No deep vein thrombosis within the past 3 weeks (must be clinically stable)

Pulmonary

* No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 weeks (must be clinically stable)

Other

* No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater
* No active infection
* No other serious concurrent medical illness
* No concurrent illness that may obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* Must participate in the System for Thalidomide Education and Prescribing Safety program
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and for 1 month after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* No prior oral thalidomide or celecoxib for more than 2 months duration

Chemotherapy

* No prior oral etoposide or cyclophosphamide for more than 2 months duration
* Prior standard-dose IV etoposide and cyclophosphamide allowed

Endocrine therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* Concurrent steroids allowed

Radiotherapy

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

Surgery

* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior surgery for relapsed or refractory disease allowed
* Recovered from prior surgery
* No concurrent surgery

Other

* No other concurrent investigational agents or treatment
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* Concurrent antiseizure medications allowed