RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as epothilone ZK-219477, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well epothilone ZK-219477 works in treating patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Assess the therapeutic activity of epothilone ZK-219477 in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Secondary

• Determine the safety profile, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients.
• Gather information about the biological characteristics of the patients' tumor that may provide information on response or resistance to this drug.

OUTLINE: This is a nonrandomized, open-label, multicenter study.

Patients receive epothilone ZK-219477 IV over 3 hours on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Blood samples are collected at baseline for biomarker analysis and for comparison of genetic alterations in tumor tissue with germline DNA. Blood samples are also collected periodically during course 1 for pharmacokinetic studies. Tumor tissue obtained at diagnosis, and possibly recurrence, is used for immunohistochemical analyses for biomarkers. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is used to detect genetic alterations and gene expression.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 3 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 35 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed glioblastoma

  • Presence of oligodendroglial elements allowed provided they make up < 25% of tumor

• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 bidimensionally measurable target lesion with a largest diameter of ≥ 2 cm by MRI within the past 2 weeks

• Recurrent disease

  • Documented by MRI after failing prior therapy (usually standard radiotherapy with concurrent and maintenance temozolomide)
  • Subsequent histologic confirmation of recurrence required for patients who received prior high-dose radiotherapy (> 65 Gy), stereotactic radiosurgery, or internal radiotherapy

• Multifocal disease that is not amenable to radiotherapy allowed provided the patient received no more than 1 line of prior chemotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• WHO performance status 0-2

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³

• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³

• Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• AST and ALT < 2.5 times ULN

• Alkaline phosphatase < 2.5 times ULN

• Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN

• Clinically normal cardiac function

• No ischemic heart disease within the past 12 months

  • Stable ischemic heart disease (e.g., treated angina that is stable under appropriate therapy) allowed

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV cardiac insufficiency

• No unstable angina

• No arrhythmia

• No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical factors that would preclude study compliance

• No other malignancy except cone-biopsied carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Negative pregnancy test

• Fertile female patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment

• Fertile male patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)

• More than 3 months since prior radiotherapy to the brain

• More than 3 months since prior surgery for recurrent primary brain tumor unless 1 of the following criteria are met:

  • Measurable residual disease documented by immediate (within 72 hours) postoperative imaging
  • Evidence of a progressive and measurable target lesion found at postoperative follow-up
  • Presence of a second measurable target lesion outside the surgical area

• Prior adjuvant temozolomide as first-line therapy allowed

• No prior chemotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma

  • One prior chemotherapy regimen given as adjuvant therapy allowed

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed provided dose is stable or decreasing for ≥ 1 week

• No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital

• No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort)

• No concurrent enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs)

  • Patients on EIAEDs should have been switched to non-EIAEDs with a wash-out period of ≥ 1 month

• No other concurrent anticancer agents (except alternative or homeopathic medicine)

• No other concurrent investigational treatment