Tipifarnib and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients must have histologically confirmed supratentorial grade IV astrocytoma (glioblastoma multiforme) * Patients must not have received prior radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy or therapy with biologic agents (including immunotoxins immunoconjugates, antisense, peptide receptor antagonists, interferons, interleukins, TIL, LAK or gene therapy) or hormonal therapy for their brain tumor; glucocorticoid therapy is allowed * Patients must have measurable and contrast-enhancing tumor on the post operative, pretreatment MRI/CT scan (within two weeks of starting treatment) * Patients must have recovered from the immediate post-operative period and be maintained on a stable corticosteroid regimen from the time of their baseline scan until the start of treatment * Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status \>= 60% (i.e. the patient must be able to care for himself/herself with occasional help from others) * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1500/mm\^3 * Platelets \>= 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin \>= 9 g/dl * Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dl * Total bilirubin =\< 2.0 mg/dl * Transaminases =\< 4 times above the upper limits of the institutional norm * Patients must be able to provide written informed consent and must be aware of the investigational nature of this study * Patients with the potential for pregnancy or impregnating their partner must agree to follow acceptable birth control methods to avoid conception; the anti-proliferative activity of this experimental drug may be harmful to the developing fetus or nursing infant; female patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test * Patients must have no concurrent malignancy except curatively treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix and breast; patients with prior malignancies must be disease-free for \>= five years * Patients must have a mini-mental state exam score (MMSE) of \>= 15 Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with serious concurrent infection or medical illness which would jeopardize the ability of the patient to receive the chemotherapy outlined in this protocol with reasonable safety * Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding * Patients who have received prior radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy (except glucocorticoids), immunotherapy or therapy with biologic agents (including immunotoxins, immunoconjugates, antisense, peptide receptor antagonists, interferons, interleukins, TIL, LAK or gene therapy) for their brain tumor * Patients receiving concurrent investigational agents * Patients who have received Gliadel wafer therapy may not participate in this study