Tamoxifen and Bortezomib to Treat Recurrent Brain Tumors

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients with histologically proven high-grade gliomas or patients with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of brainstem glioma will be eligible for this protocol. High-grade gliomas include glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; stratum 1) and its variants such as gliosarcoma and anaplastic gliomas (AG; stratum 2), such as anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (AO), anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma (AMO), or malignant astrocytoma/glioma NOS (not otherwise specified).

Patients must have unequivocal evidence for tumor progression by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scan. This scan should be performed within 14 days prior to registration and on a steroid dosage that has been stable for at least 5 days. If the steroid dose is increased between the date of imaging and registration a new baseline MR/CT is required. The same type of scan, i.e., MRI or CT must be used throughout the period of protocol treatment for tumor measurement.

Patients having undergone recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor will be eligible as long as all of the following conditions apply:

1. They have recovered from the effects of surgery.
2. Residual disease following resection of recurrent tumor is mandated for eligibility into the study. To best assess the extent of residual disease post-operatively, a CT/ MRI should be done:

   * no later than 96 hours in the immediate post-operative period or
   * at least 4 weeks post-operatively, and
   * within 14 days of registration, and
   * on a steroid dosage that has been stable for at least 5 days.

   If the 96 hour scan is more than 21 days before registration, the scan needs to be repeated. If the steroid dose is increased between the date of imaging and registration, a new baseline MRI/CT is required on a stable steroid dosage for at least 5 days.

   Patients must have failed prior radiation therapy and must have an interval of greater than or equal to 4 weeks from the completion of radiation therapy to study entry.

   Ability of subjects or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

   Patients must be greater than or equal to 18 years old, and with a life expectancy greater than 8 weeks.

   Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status of greater than or equal to 60.

   Patients must have recovered from the toxic effects of prior therapy: 2 weeks from any investigational agent, 4 weeks from prior cytotoxic therapy, two weeks from vincristine, 6 weeks from nitrosoureas, 3 weeks from procarbazine administration, and 1 week for non-cytotoxic agents, e.g., interferon, thalidomide, cis-retinoic acid, etc. (radiosensitizer does not count). Any questions related to the definition of non-cytotoxic agents should be directed to the Study Chair.

   Patients must have adequate bone marrow function (white blood cell (WBC) greater than or equal to 3,000/microl, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1,500/mm\^3, platelet count of greater than or equal to 100,000/mm\^3, and hemoglobin greater than or equal to 10 gm/dl), adequate liver function (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and bilirubin less than 2 times ULN), and adequate renal function (creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL and/or creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 cc/min) before starting therapy. These tests must be performed within 14 days prior to registration. Eligibility level for hemoglobin may be reached by transfusion.

   Patients must not have any significant medical illnesses that in the investigator's opinion cannot be adequately controlled with appropriate therapy or would compromise the patients' ability to tolerate this therapy.

   This study was designed to include women and minorities, but was not designed to measure differences of intervention effects. Males and females will be recruited with no preference to gender. No exclusion to this study will be based on race. Minorities will actively be recruited to participate.

   Patients must practice adequate contraception.

   EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

   Patients who, in the view of the treating physician, have significant active cardiac (documented coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia requiring medication), hepatic (hepatocellular and/or cholestatic dysfunction as documented by liver biopsy, liver ultrasound, or abnormal liver function blood tests, renal (as documented by renal biopsy, ultrasound, CT/MRI scans or reflected in the blood tests or psychiatric diseases (requiring hospitalization or is of significant severity to impair the patients ability to cooperate with the study instructions).

   No concurrent use of other standard chemotherapeutics or investigative agents.

   Patients known to have an active malignancy other than their glioma (except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in-situ of the cervix).

   Patients who have an active infection requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

   Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding.

   Patients who have any disease that will obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism.

   Patients who have had clear tumor progression while being treated with tamoxifen and/or patients treated with tamoxifen within the past year.

   Patients who are taking EIAEDs (enzyme inducing anti-epileptic drugs) are not eligible.

   Patients who have had documented tumor progression while taking tamoxifen and/or any treatment with tamoxifen within 6 months of registration.

   Salicylates ARE permitted.

   Patients with grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy.

   Invasive procedures defined as follows:
   * Major surgical procedures, open biopsy or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day ! therapy
   * Anticipation of need for major surgical procedures during the course of the study
   * Core biopsy within 7 days prior to D1 therapy