Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant glioblastoma multiforme * Recurrent or progressive disease after prior primary treatment with radiotherapy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy * Bidimensionally measurable disease on CT scan or MRI with at least one lesion ≥ 1 cm x 1 cm * Paraffin embedded tumor sample available * Concurrent enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs (EIAEDs) required for phase I of the study * Patients in phase II of the study may or may not be receiving EIAEDs PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 50% by echocardiogram or MUGA * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No congestive heart failure * No unstable angina * No active cardiomyopathy * No cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension Pulmonary * No pulmonary disease requiring oxygen Neurologic * No preexisting peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 3 * No history of significant neurologic disorder that would preclude study compliance or ability to give informed consent Gastrointestinal * No upper gastrointestinal or other conditions that would preclude compliance with oral medication * No active peptic ulcer disease Other * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or other curatively treated solid tumor * No immune deficiency * No history of significant psychiatric disorder (e.g., uncontrolled psychotic disorders) that would preclude study compliance or ability to give informed consent * No other serious illness or medical condition that would preclude study participation * No known hypersensitivity to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to lapatinib * No active uncontrolled or serious infection * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or other hematopoietic growth factors * Concurrent hematopoietic growth factors allowed for treatment of acute toxicity (e.g., febrile neutropenia) Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No prior chemotherapy for recurrent disease * No more than one prior chemotherapy regimen in the adjuvant setting * At least 6 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Concurrent steroids allowed provided the dose is stable for at least 14 days before study entry Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery Other * H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors allowed, unless they are CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent administration of any of the following CYP3A4 inhibitors: * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Troleandomycin * Telithromycin * Ciprofloxacin * Norfloxacin * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Voriconazole * Fluconazole (≤150 mg/day allowed) * Nefazodone * Fluovoxamine * Delavirdine * Nelfinavir * Amprenavir * Ritonavir * Indinavir * Saquinavir * Lopinavir * Verapamil * Diltiazem * Aprepitant * Grapefruit or grapefruit juice * Bitter orange * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent administration of any of the following CYP3A4 inducers: * Rifampin * Rifabutin * Rifapentine * Efavirenz * Nevirapine * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Modafinil * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent administration of amiodarone * Antacids (e.g., mylanta, maalox, tums, rennies) must be administered ≥ 1 hour before and ≥ 1 hour after study drug * At least 2 days since prior and no concurrent cimetidine * No other concurrent anti-cancer agents * No other concurrent investigational therapy