Bevacizumab and Carmustine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Progressive High-Grade Glioma

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To determine the 6-month progression-free survival of patients with relapsed or progressive high-grade gliomas treated with bevacizumab and carmustine. Secondary * To evaluate the radiographic response to this regimen as measured by MRI and PET scan with image fusion. * To utilize novel brain imaging to differentiate between a radiographic response due to tumor shrinkage and a radiographic response due to decreased vasogenic edema. * To evaluate the safety and toxicity of this regimen in these patients. * To evaluate the overall survival of these patients. OUTLINE: Patients receive bevacizumab IV on days -7, 8, 22, 36, and 50 of course 1 and on days 8, 22, 36, and 50 of all subsequent courses. Patients also receive carmustine IV over 4 hours on day 1. Treatment repeats every 56 days for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed every 3 months.