Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Recurrent Meningioma

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically confirmed meningioma Benign, malignant, or atypical disease Neurofibromatosis (NF) type 1 or 2 allowed Hemangiopericytoma allowed Unequivocal evidence of tumor recurrence or progression by MRI or CT scan (on steroid dosage that is stable for at least 5 days) Evaluable residual disease by MRI or CT scan if previously treated with surgical resection for recurrent or progressive disease Newly diagnosed recurrent disease that requires surgical debulking allowed Prior standard external-beam radiotherapy, interstitial brachytherapy, or gamma-knife radiosurgery allowed provided disease has progressed since completion of therapy Patients who have had prior brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery must have confirmation of true progressive disease rather than radiation necrosis based upon positron-emission tomography or thallium scanning, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or surgical documentation Patients with a history of NF may have other stable Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors (e.g., schwannoma, acoustic neuroma, or ependymoma) provided those lesions have been stable in size for the past 6 months Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% More than 8 weeks Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3 Platelet count at least 120,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusions allowed) No bleeding disorders Bilirubin less than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) less than 2 times ULN Prothrombin Time (PT), Partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and International normalized Ratio (INR) no greater than 1.5 times ULN Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 6 weeks No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 weeks No serious active infection No prior intracranial hemorrhage No concurrent disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism No other malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix unless the patient is in complete remission and off all therapy for that disease for at least 3 years No other significant medical illness that would preclude study participation Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation At least 1 week since prior interferon or thalidomide No concurrent immunotherapy Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas At least 3 weeks since prior hydroxyurea or procarbazine No concurrent chemotherapy At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen No concurrent hormonal therapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Recovered from prior surgery Recovered from all prior therapy At least 1 week since prior noncytotoxic therapy (e.g., isotretinoin) except radiosensitizers At least 2 weeks since prior drugs that affect hepatic metabolism At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents No concurrent warfarin (heparin or low-molecular weight heparin allowed) No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent acetaminophen of more than 500 mg/day No other concurrent anticancer therapy