Vorinostat in Treating Patients With Progressive or Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

You may be eligible if

• Histologically confirmed grade 4 astrocytoma (glioblastoma multiforme), including gliosarcoma, at primary diagnosis or recurrence
• * Progressive or recurrent disease
• Measurable or evaluable disease by MRI or CT scan
• Performance status - ECOG 0-2
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
• AST ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin normal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No congestive heart failure
• No life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia requiring ongoing maintenance therapy
• No known HIV positivity
• Not immunocompromised except if related to the use of corticosteroids
• No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of the study drug
• No uncontrolled infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment
• No other malignancy
• No other severe disease that would preclude study participation
• Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed
• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• More than 2 weeks since prior small molecule cell cycle inhibitor
• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed as long as dose has been stable for ≥ 1 week
• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• * Must have evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan after radiotherapy
• More than 6 weeks since prior stereotactic radiosurgery or interstitial brachytherapy, unless 1 of the following criteria is met:
• * There is a separate lesion by MRI outside of the prior treatment field
• * There is evidence of recurrent disease by biopsy, MRI spectroscopy, or positron-emission tomography scan
• More than 2 weeks since prior valproic acid