FR901228 in Treating Patients With Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas

Inclusion Criteria: * Phase I and phase II: * Histologically confirmed recurrent intracranial malignant glioma, including any of the following: * Glioblastoma multiforme * Gliosarcoma * Anaplastic astrocytoma * Anaplastic oligodendroglioma * Anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma * Malignant astrocytoma not otherwise specified * Unequivocal evidence of tumor progression by MRI or CT scan while on a steroid dosage that has been stable for at least 5 days * Patients previously treated with interstitial brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgerymust have confirmation of true progressive disease (rather than radiation necrosis) by positron-emission tomography, thallium scan, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or surgical documentation * Must have failed prior radiotherapy that was completed at least 6 weeks ago * No more than 2 prior therapies (initial treatment and treatment for 1 relapse)\* * Surgical resection for relapsed disease with no anticancer therapy for up to 12 weeks, followed by a second surgical resection, is considered treatment for 1 relapse * Patients in group B must have been receiving enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) for at least the past 2 weeks * Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100% * More than 8 weeks * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (transfusions allowed) * SGOT \< 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin \< 2 times ULN * Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL * No congestive heart failure (i.e., New York Heart Association class II-IV, ejection fraction \< 40% by MUGA scan or \< 50% by echocardiogram and/or MRI) * No myocardial infarction within the past year * No uncontrolled dysrhythmias * No poorly controlled angina * No significant left ventricular hypertrophy by EKG * No cardiac ischemia (ST depression of 2 mm) by EKG * No hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy from prior treatment or other causes * No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 160/95 mm Hg) * No cardiac arrhythmia requiring antiarrhythmic medication * No known cardiac abnormalities (e.g., congenital long QT syndrome and QTc interval \> 480 milliseconds) * No history of sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, Torsade de Pointes, or cardiac arrest unless controlled with concurrent automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator * No known history of coronary artery disease (e.g., Canadian class II-IV angina) * No other significant cardiac disease * No other malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No active infection * No significant uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation * No disease that would obscure toxicity or dangerously alter drug metabolism * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 2 weeks after study participation * Fertile male patients must continue barrier contraception for 3 months after study participation * At least 1 week since prior interferon or thalidomide * No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF) * No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy * At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas * At least 3 weeks since prior procarbazine * No prior FR901228 (depsipeptide) * No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 1 week since prior tamoxifen * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Prior recent resection of recurrent or progressive tumor allowed if patient has recovered * Recovered from all prior therapy * At least 2 weeks since prior EIAEDs (patients in Group A only) * At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * At least 1 week since prior isotretinoin * At least 1 week since other prior non-cytotoxic therapy (except radiosensitizers) * No concurrent valproic acid * No concurrent hydrochlorothiazide * No concurrent medication that causes QTc prolongation * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other concurrent investigational drugs