Vaccine Therapy and Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Malignant Glioma

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the toxicity profile of the SVN53-67/M57-KLH peptide in Montanide ISA 51 (Montanide ISA-51/survivin peptide vaccine) plus with GM-CSF (sargramostim). SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To measure the immune responses induced by SVN53-67/M57-KLH with Montanide ISA 51 with GM-CSF. TERTIARY OBJECTIVES: I. To collect preliminary data on therapeutic efficacy of this combination against malignant glioma. OUTLINE: Patients receive Montanide ISA-51/survivin peptide vaccine subcutaneously (SC) followed by sargramostim SC on day 0. Treatment repeats every 2 weeks for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at weeks 12, 16, 20, and 24. TREATMENT EXTENSION: After completion of study treatment, select patients may receive additional doses of Montanide ISA-51/survivin peptide vaccine SC and sargramostim SC. Treatment repeats every 3 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of treatment extension, patients are followed up at 1 month.