AZD2171 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

Criteria:

* AST/ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
* Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
* Measurable contrast-enhancing tumor \>= 1 cm in longest diameter by baseline MRI or CT scan:

  * Patient must have been on no steroids OR a stable dose of steroids for \>= 5 days prior to baseline MRI or CT scan
  * Patients who are on steroids must be maintained on a stable corticosteroid regimen from baseline scan until the start of study treatment
* No intratumoral or peritumoral hemorrhage by MRI
* Karnofsky performance status \>= 60%
* No other concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast
* Mini-mental status examination score \>= 15
* Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3
* Hemoglobin \>= 8 g/dL
* Bilirubin normal
* No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to AZD2171
* Mean QTc =\< 470 msec (with Bazett's correction) on screening electrocardiogram
* No history of familial long QT syndrome
* No greater than +1 proteinuria on 2 consecutive dipsticks taken \>= 1 week apart unless first urinalysis shows no protein
* No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

Hypertension; Ongoing or active infection; Symptomatic congestive heart failure; Unstable angina pectoris; Cardiac arrhythmia; Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

* No known coagulopathy that increases the risk of bleeding
* No history of clinically significant hemorrhages
* Recovered from toxicity of prior therapy
* At least 3 months since prior radiation therapy, including cranial radiation therapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
* At least 3 weeks since prior molecularly-targeted agents
* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery
* No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens or antineoplastic drugs
* More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational trial
* At least 2 weeks since prior enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs)
* No concurrent EIAEDs; Concurrent non-EIAEDs allowed
* No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No concurrent vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors:

Prior thalidomide or lenolidomide allowed

* No concurrent anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) or antiplatelet agents including aspirin
* No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies
* No concurrent grapefruit juice
* WBC \>= 3,000/mm3
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3