Carmustine in Treating Patients With Recurrent Malignant Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Pathologically confirmed recurrent malignant glioma for which surgery is indicated
• Unilateral, supratentorial, solitary lesion at least 1.0 cm in diameter on contrast-enhanced CT or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• Karnofsky 60-100%
• Life expectancy:
• At least 8 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin, AST, ALT, and alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times normal
• BUN less than 2.5 times normal
• Protein no greater than 3 g/dL
• No gross hematuria
• Other:
• No hypersensitivity to nitrosoureas
• Not pregnant
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No concurrent life threatening disease
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunotherapy during first 8 weeks of study
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas)
• No concurrent chemotherapy during first 8 weeks of study
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• Prior definitive external-beam radiotherapy (i.e., at least 5,000 cGy) required
• No concurrent radiotherapy or brachytherapy during first 4 weeks of study
• Surgery:
• Prior cytoreductive surgery for supratentorial brain tumor required
• Biopsy alone not sufficient
• Other:
• No concurrent investigational therapy during first 8 weeks of study