Imatinib Mesylate and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Malignant Glioma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed malignant glioma
• * Any of the following subtypes:
• * Glioblastoma multiforme
• * Gliosarcoma
• * Anaplastic astrocytoma
• * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
• * Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma
• * Previous histologic diagnosis of a lower grade of glioma allowed if there is histologic evidence of progression to a diagnosis of malignant glioma
• * Multifocal disease allowed
• Must have undergone prior conventional external-beam radiation therapy
• Stable disease, disease recurrence, or relapsed disease
• * Must not have received any systemic therapy for this recurrence or relapse
• * No prior progressive disease
• No central/systemic fluid collections (pericardial effusion, pulmonary effusion, ascites) ≥ grade 2
• No evidence of intratumor hemorrhage on pretreatment diagnostic imaging, except for stable post-operative grade 1 hemorrhage
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
• Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm³
• Hemoglobin \> 9 g/dL
• Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³
• AST and ALT \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN
• Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN
• No chronic renal disease
• No active uncontrolled infection
• No uncontrolled diabetes
• No excessive risk of bleeding, as defined by occurrence of any of the following:
• * Stroke within the past 6 months
• * History of CNS or intraocular bleed
• * Septic endocarditis
• No history of labile hypertension
• No congestive heart failure
• No poorly controlled hypertension
• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No history of poor compliance with antihypertensive regimen
• No other severe and/or uncontrolled medical disease that would preclude study participation
• No peripheral edema ≥ grade 2
• No gastrointestinal bleeding
• No gross hematuria
• No other active systemic bleeding
• Patients must not have experienced toxicity ≥ grade 3 with prior treatment with either temozolomide or imatinib mesylate
• No other primary malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or other cancer not currently clinically significant nor requiring active interventions
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from all prior therapy
• Prior surgical resection(s) allowed
• At least 2 weeks since prior surgery
• At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)
• At least 2 weeks since prior external-beam radiotherapy
• At least 2 weeks since prior investigational drugs
• More than 1 week since prior biologic, immunotherapeutic, or cytostatic agents
• No concurrent warfarin