DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed intracranial ependymoma at first, second, or third relapse

  • Anaplastic (malignant) or low-grade ependymoma (cellular, papillary, clear cell, or mixed variants)
• Unequivocal evidence of tumor recurrence or progression by MRI scan after failing conventional treatment (e.g., primary surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy) for initial or recurrent disease
• Unresectable disease OR not amenable to complete surgical resection

• Measurable enhancing or non-enhancing disease on baseline scan performed within the past 2 weeks

  • Patients who have undergone prior surgery must have residual measurable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Lansky performance status 30-100%
• Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks
• Absolute neutrophil count > 1,000/mm^3
• Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3
• Serum total bilirubin normal
• AST < 2 times upper limit of normal
• No unrelated medical condition (e.g., renal or liver impairment) that would preclude chemotherapy treatment
• No active infection
• No known HIV positivity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No radiotherapy within the past 6 weeks
• No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks
• Prior IV etoposide allowed