Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary or Advanced Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or radiographically proven primary, recurrent, or refractory malignant gliomas (glioblastoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and mixed anaplastic glioma) Must be a candidate for neurosurgical biopsy or tumor debulking PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance Status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life Expectancy: Greater than 4 months Hematopoietic: Granulocytes greater than 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm^3 PT and PTT within normal limits Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure No coronary artery disease No serious cardiac arrhythmias No prior myocardial infarction Pulmonary: No major pulmonary problems Other: No history of neurologic disease (except related to brain tumor) No psychosis No impaired cognitive function No significant concurrent medical illness No active infection requiring antibiotic therapy Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Adequate peripheral veins to permit leukapheresis, or placement of indwelling central vascular access device No hepatitis B or C HIV negative No prior autoimmune disease Allergy to gentamicin is allowed PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 6 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for carmustine) and recovered No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Reduction or elimination of corticosteroids Not greater than 0.15 mg/kg/day dexamethasone equivalent Radiotherapy: At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Prior surgery is allowed Other: Concurrent therapy with acetaminophen, anticonvulsant agents, and headache pain medications is allowed