Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Gliomas

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme
• * Recurrent disease by CT scan or MRI
• * No prior chemotherapy OR
• * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen in adjuvant setting or for recurrent disease OR
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed anaplastic oligodendroglioma, mixed oligoastrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, or recurrent low-grade astrocytoma
• * Failed prior radiotherapy
• * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
• * Failed adjuvant chemotherapy OR
• * Failed first-line chemotherapy
• At least 1 bidimensionally measurable target lesion
• * At least 2 cm on contrast-enhanced CT scan or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.7 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• Cardiac function normal
• No ischemic heart disease within the past 6 months
• Normal 12-lead ECG
• Other:
• No other prior or concurrent malignancy except cone-biopsied carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
• No unstable systemic disease
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent anticancer biologic agents
• No concurrent cytokines (e.g., filgrastim \[G-CSF\] or sargramostim \[GM-CSF\])
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea)
• No concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Must be on stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids for at least 2 weeks
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 months since prior brain irradiation
• No prior high-dose radiotherapy (more than 65 Gy), stereotactic radiosurgery, or internal radiotherapy unless the recurrence is histologically confirmed
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Prior surgery for primary brain tumor within the past 3 months allowed provided one of the following conditions are present:
• * Postoperative imaging within 72 hours after surgery shows a clearly limited target lesion of at least 2 cm
• * Postoperative follow-up shows a progressive and measurable target lesion
• * A second measurable target lesion is present outside the surgical area
• Other:
• No concurrent warfarin or other anticoagulants
• No other concurrent anticancer agents
• No other concurrent investigational agents