Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Malignant Glioma

Inclusion Criteria

• •Patients must have histologically proven malignant glioma (anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma or glioblastoma multiforme) which is progressive or recurrent after radiation therapy ± chemotherapy; patients with previous low grade glioma who progressed after radiotherapy ± chemotherapy and are biopsied and found to have a high grade glioma are eligible
• •Patients must have measurable progressive or recurrent malignant glioma by MRI or CT imaging; (Within 14 days before starting treatment)
• •Patients must have recovered from toxicity of prior therapy; an interval of at least 3 months must have elapsed since the completion of the most recent course of radiation therapy, while at least 3 weeks must have elapsed since the completion of a non-nitrosourea containing chemotherapy regimen, and at least 6 weeks since the completion of a nitrosourea containing chemotherapy regimen
• •Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status \>= 60% (i.e. the patient must be able to care for himself/herself with occasional help from others)
• •Absolute Neutrophil Count \>= 1500/mm\^3
• •Platelets \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• •Creatinine =\< 1.7mg/dl
• •Total Bilirubin =\< 1.5mg/dl
• •Transaminases =\< 4 times above the upper limits of the institutional norm
• •PT, PTT, INR within institutional norm
• •Patients must be able to provide written informed consent
• •Patients with the potential for pregnancy or impregnating their partner must agree to follow acceptable birth control methods to avoid conception; women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test; (The anti-proliferative activity of this experimental drug may be harmful to the developing fetus or nursing infant)
• •Patients must have a Mini Mental State Exam score \>= 15