Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Fenretinide Compared With Adjuvant Fenretinide Alone in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Surgical Resection For Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

You may be eligible if

• Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme after initial tumor resection
• Radiologically evident recurrent tumor after prior radiotherapy OR after treatment for no more than 2 prior relapses
• * Enhancing or nonenhancing recurrent disease by MRI
• No progressive symptoms requiring urgent surgery
• Performance status - Karnofsky 70-100%
• More than 8 weeks
• Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• PT/PTT no greater than upper limit of normal
• SGPT no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times normal
• Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL
• BUN no greater than 1.5 times normal
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times normal
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 2 months after study participation
• Amylase and lipase normal
• No active infection
• No other disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism
• No other concurrent serious medical illness
• Not at risk from any study treatment delays
• Able to swallow fenretinide capsules
• Recovered from all prior chemotherapy
• Approximately 2 weeks since prior vincristine
• Approximately 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas
• Approximately 3 weeks since prior procarbazine
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 1 week since prior vitamin A
• At least 1 week since prior isotretinoin (Accutane®)
• No concurrent vitamin A during and for 2 weeks after study participation
• No concurrent antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid or vitamin E)