CCI-779 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed grade 4 astrocytoma at primary diagnosis or recurrence * Gliosarcoma allowed * Evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan after radiotherapy or first-line chemotherapy * Measurable or evaluable disease by MRI or CT scan * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * SGOT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No congestive heart failure requiring ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias * Cholesterol no greater than 350 mg/dL * Triglycerides no greater than 400 mg/dL * Willing to provide correlative laboratory samples * No uncontrolled infection * No known hypersensitivity to any components of CCI-779, diphenhydramine hydrochloride, or other similar antihistamines * No other medical reason that would preclude diphenhydramine premedication * No other active malignancy * No other severe disease that would preclude study participation * Not immunocompromised unless due to corticosteroids * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * See Disease Characteristics * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for recurrent/progressive disease * No prior polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant (Gliadel) * Must be on fixed dose of corticosteroids (or no corticosteroids) at least 1 week prior to baseline scan * See Disease Characteristics * At least 12 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior stereotactic radiosurgery or interstitial brachytherapy unless there is a separate lesion on MRI that is outside of the previously treated field * No prior resection since last chemotherapy or radiotherapy unless there is unequivocal tumor growth on neuro-imaging study since surgery or there is a separate lesion not present in the surgical bed * More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents