CC-8490 in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory High-Grade Gliomas

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed supratentorial malignant glioma, including any of the following: Glioblastoma multiforme Gliosarcoma Anaplastic astrocytoma Anaplastic oligodendroglioma Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma Malignant glioma/astrocytoma not otherwise specified OR Clinical and radiographic diagnosis of progressive low-grade glioma Radiographically diagnosed infiltrating brain stem gliomas not amenable to biopsy allowed Recurrent or progressive disease as determined by 1 of the following: CT scan or MRI within the past 21 days Biopsy within the past 12 weeks Failed prior radiotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy More than 8 weeks Hematopoietic Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 (transfusion independent) Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST and ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal No significant active hepatic disease that would preclude study participation Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min No significant active renal disease that would preclude study participation Cardiovascular No significant active cardiac disease that would preclude study participation Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No significant active psychiatric disease that would preclude study participation No other condition or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study participation Able to swallow capsules whole PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 2 weeks since prior interferon No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine At least 4 weeks since prior temozolomide or carboplatin At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy At least 2 weeks since prior tamoxifen Concurrent steroids allowed provided dose has been stable for at least 5 days prior to study enrollment Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery At least 2 weeks since prior resection of a recurrent or progressive tumor Other At least 2 weeks since other prior non-cytotoxic therapy At least 4 weeks since other prior cytotoxic therapies More than 28 days since prior experimental study drugs No other concurrent investigational agents