Lonafarnib and Temozolomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent Primary Supratentorial Gliomas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed primary supratentorial glioma Multifocal disease allowed Recurrent disease after prior surgery and/or radiotherapy Radiological evidence of increased and/or enhanced target lesion Amenable to temozolomide therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Over 18 Performance status ECOG 0-2 OR WHO 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL Hepatic Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Transaminases < 2.5 times ULN Bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine < 1.7 mg/dL Cardiovascular Cardiac function clinically normal Normal 12-lead ECG QTc ≤ 440 msec on ECG No ischemic heart disease within the past 6 months Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation No unstable systemic disease No active uncontrolled infection No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance and follow-up No other active or recurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except cone biopsied carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No concurrent anticancer biologic agents Chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for temozolomide) Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Concurrent corticosteroids allowed provided treatment remains at a stable or decreasing dose for at least 2 weeks Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery See Disease Characteristics At least 3 months since prior surgery for primary brain tumor Other Concurrent anticonvulsants allowed No other concurrent anticancer agents No other concurrent investigational therapy