SU5416 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Astrocytoma or Mixed Glioma That Has Not Responded to Radiation Therapy

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven supratentorial malignant primary glioma, including: * Glioblastoma multiforme * Anaplastic astrocytoma * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma * Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma * Malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified * Benign or malignant meningiomas, including brain and spinal meningiomas * Patients with meningiomas are excluded from phase II portion of study * Must have shown unequivocal evidence of tumor recurrence or progression by CT scan or MRI * Must have failed prior radiotherapy * Must have prestudy contrast MRI or contrast CT scan of brain on stable steroid dose within the past 14 days * Must be on stable (unchanged) dose of steroids for at least 5 days before scans * Phase II: * Must have completed radiotherapy at least 2 months prior to enrollment PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * More than 8 weeks Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,300/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: * SGOT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Bilirubin normal * No significant active hepatic disease Renal: * Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No significant active renal disease Cardiovascular: * No uncompensated coronary artery disease on ECG or physical examination * No history of myocardial infarction or severe/unstable angina within the past 6 months * No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months Pulmonary: * No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study * No other serious concurrent illness * No significant active psychiatric disease * No diabetes mellitus with severe peripheral vascular disease * No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No serious active infection * No other concurrent disease that would obscure toxic effects or dangerously alter drug metabolism PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy (e.g., interferon) and recovered * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * Phase I: * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for recurrent disease * Phase II: * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent disease * At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas * At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior endocrine therapy (e.g., tamoxifen) and recovered Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * Recovered from prior surgery * Recent prior resection of recurrent or progressive tumor allowed Other: * No other concurrent investigational agents