Tumor Tissue Analysis in Patients Receiving Imatinib Mesylate for Malignant Glioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed malignant glioma of 1 of the following subtypes:

  • Low-grade glioma
  • Anaplastic astrocytoma
  • Anaplastic oligodendroglioma
  • Glioblastoma multiforme
• Unifocal disease that is progressive or recurrent after prior radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy

• Scheduled to undergo surgical resection

  • Able to undergo maximal surgical resection of tumor mass

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
• Mini Mental Status Exam ≥ 15
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Creatinine ≥ 1.7 mg/dL
• BUN ≤ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Transaminases ≤ 4 times ULN
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment

• No other medical illness that would preclude study treatment, including any of the following:

  • Serious infection
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Uncontrolled cardiac dysrhythmia

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from all prior therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs
• No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen
• No concurrent chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiotherapy
• No concurrent medications that may interact with imatinib mesylate or interfere with hepatic cytochrome P450 system