DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or gliosarcoma

  • Recurrent disease
  • Original histological diagnosis of low-grade glioma allowed provided a subsequent histological diagnosis of GBM is made

• Evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan

  • Patients who received prior interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery must have confirmation of true progressive disease rather than radiation necrosis by 1 of the following:

    • Positron-emission tomography scanning
    • Thallium scanning
    • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
    • Surgical documentation of disease
• Failed prior radiotherapy

• Patients may have been treated for no more than 2 prior relapses*

  • Surgical resection for relapsed disease and no anticancer therapy within 12 weeks after resection followed by a second resection is considered 1 relapse*
  • Surgical diagnosis of a high-grade glioma after prior therapy for a low-grade glioma is considered the first relapse* NOTE: *Defined as progression after initial therapy (e.g., radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, including polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant [Gliadel® wafers])
• At least 5 unstained slides or 1 tissue block available
• Must be a candidate for total or subtotal surgical re-resection

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy

• More than 8 weeks

Hematopoietic

• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (transfusions allowed)

Hepatic

• SGOT < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin < 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• Cardiac ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active infection
• No other serious medical illness
• No disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter metabolism of study drug
• No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No other uncontrolled significant medical illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• At least 7 days since prior thalidomide or interferon
• No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 42 days since prior nitrosoureas
• At least 21 days since prior procarbazine
• At least 14 days since prior vincristine
• No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• At least 7 days since prior tamoxifen
• No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy
• At least 28 days since prior investigational agents
• At least 28 days since prior cytotoxic therapy

• More than 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs (EIAEDs)

  • Concurrent non-EIAEDs allowed
• At least 7 days since prior isotretinoin
• At least 7 days since other prior non-cytotoxic agents (not including radiosensitizers)
• At least 6 month since prior and no concurrent amiodarone

• At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent inducers of CYP3A4, including any of the following:

  • Phenytoin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Phenobarbital
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Rifampin
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifapentine
  • Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)
  • Modafinil

• At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent inhibitors of CYP3A4, including any of the following:

  • Clarithromycin
  • Erythromycin
  • Troleandomycin
  • Itraconazole
  • Ketoconazole
  • Voriconazole
  • Fluconazole (doses ≤ 150 mg/day allowed)
  • Nefazodone
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Verapamil
  • Diltiazem
  • Aprepitant
  • Grapefruit or grapefruit juice
  • Bitter orange
• No prior signal transduction inhibitors (e.g., gefitinib, erlotinib, or tipifarnib)

• No use of gastric pH modifiers within 1 hour before or after study drug administration, including any of the following:

  • Cimetidine
  • Ranitidine
  • Nizatidine
  • Famotidine
  • Omeprazole
  • Esomeprazole
  • Rabeprazole
  • Pantoprazole
  • Lansoprazole
  • Antacids
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy