DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed diagnosis of one of the following:

  • Glioblastoma multiforme
  • Anaplastic astrocytoma
  • Anaplastic oligoastrocytoma
  • Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
• Disease progression (confirmed by MRI and/or PET scan) after radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
• Platelet count ≥ 130,000/mm^3
• ANC ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Creatinine clearance > 45 mg/dL
• AST < 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN

• Urine protein:creatinine ratio < 1.0 OR proteinuria < 2+ by urine dipstick

  • Patients with proteinuria ≥ 2+ by urine dipstick must demonstrate ≤ 1 g of protein by 24-hour urine collection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No inadequately controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic BP > 150 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > 100 mm Hg despite antihypertensive medications)
• No history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy
• No NYHA class II-IV congestive heart failure
• No myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, or transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection)
• No symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
• No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy
• No evidence of CNS hemorrhage
• No hemorrhage ≥ grade 3 within the past 28 days
• No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days
• No abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within the past 6 months
• No active inflammatory bowel disease
• No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture
• No known hypersensitivity to Chinese hamster ovary cell products or other recombinant human antibodies
• No known AIDS or HIV positivity
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except for non-melanomatous skin cancer or in situ cervical cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior IV or oral nitrosoureas (e.g., carmustine or lomustine)
• No prior VEGF-targeted therapy, including bevacizumab
• No prior organ transplant
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
• Prior or concurrent steroids allowed
• At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• At least 28 days since prior major surgery or open biopsy
• At least 7 days since prior core biopsy or other minor surgery, except for placement of a vascular access device
• No concurrent major surgery
• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation