FR901228 in Treating Patients With Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas

Inclusion Criteria:

* Phase I and phase II:

  * Histologically confirmed recurrent intracranial malignant glioma, including any of the following:

    * Glioblastoma multiforme
    * Gliosarcoma
    * Anaplastic astrocytoma
    * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
    * Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma
    * Malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified
* Unequivocal evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan while on a steroid dosage that has been stable for at least 5 days
* Patients previously treated with interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgerymust have confirmation of true progressive disease (rather than radiation necrosis) by positron-emission tomography, thallium scan, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or surgical documentation
* Must have failed prior radiotherapy that was completed at least 6 weeks ago
* No more than 2 prior therapies (initial treatment and treatment for 1 relapse)\*

  * Surgical resection for relapsed disease with no anticancer therapy for up to 12 weeks, followed by a second surgical resection, is considered treatment for 1 relapse
* Patients in group B must have been receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) for at least the past 2 weeks
* Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
* More than 8 weeks
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (transfusions allowed)
* SGOT \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin \< 2 times ULN
* Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL
* No congestive heart failure (i.e., New York Heart Association class II-IV, ejection fraction \< 40% by MUGA scan or \< 50% by echocardiogram and/or MRI)
* No myocardial infarction within the past year
* No uncontrolled dysrhythmias
* No poorly controlled angina
* No significant left ventricular hypertrophy by EKG
* No cardiac ischemia (ST depression of 2 mm) by EKG
* No hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy from prior treatment or other causes
* No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 160/95 mm Hg)
* No cardiac arrhythmia requiring antiarrhythmic medication
* No known cardiac abnormalities (e.g., congenital long QT syndrome and QTc interval \> 480 milliseconds)
* No history of sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, Torsade de Pointes, or cardiac arrest unless controlled with concurrent automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator
* No known history of coronary artery disease (e.g., Canadian class II-IV angina)
* No other significant cardiac disease
* No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No active infection
* No significant uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation
* No disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 2 weeks after study participation

  * Fertile male patients must continue barrier contraception for 3 months after study participation
* At least 1 week since prior interferon or thalidomide
* No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)
* No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy
* At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine
* At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas
* At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
* No prior FR901228 (depsipeptide)
* No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy
* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen
* No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy
* See Disease Characteristics
* No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy
* See Disease Characteristics
* Prior recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor allowed if patient has recovered
* Recovered from all prior therapy
* At least 2 weeks since prior EIAEDs (patients in Group A only)
* At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy
* At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents
* At least 1 week since prior isotretinoin
* At least 1 week since other prior non-cytotoxic therapy (except radiosensitizers)
* No concurrent valproic acid
* No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide
* No concurrent medication that causes QTc prolongation
* No other concurrent anticancer therapy
* No other concurrent investigational drugs