DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed and/or clinical and imaging evidence of a new brain mass that is likely to be a supratentorial malignant glioma
• Clinical condition and physiologic status indicative of debulking surgery or biopsy as standard initial therapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky performance status 60-100%

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• WBC greater than 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count greater than 90,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

• No significant cardiac condition that would preclude study therapy
• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 1 month after study completion
• Weight no greater than 130 kilograms
• No grade 3 or 4 peripheral neuropathy
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 3 years that is likely to cause a solitary supratentorial metastasis
• No uncontrolled concurrent illness, medical condition, psychiatric illness, or social situation that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• At least 6 months since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroid therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy to lesion or site of lesion

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 6 months since prior surgery to lesion or site of lesion except incisional or core biopsy

Other:

• Concurrent anticonvulsant therapy allowed
• No other concurrent investigational agents