Etoposide in Treating Young Patients With Relapsed Ependymoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed intracranial ependymoma at first, second, or third relapse * Anaplastic (malignant) or low-grade ependymoma (cellular, papillary, clear cell, or mixed variants) * Unequivocal evidence of tumor recurrence or progression by MRI scan after failing conventional treatment (e.g., primary surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy) for initial or recurrent disease * Unresectable disease OR not amenable to complete surgical resection * Measurable enhancing or non-enhancing disease on baseline scan performed within the past 2 weeks * Patients who have undergone prior surgery must have residual measurable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Lansky performance status 30-100% * Life expectancy ≥ 8 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 * Serum total bilirubin normal * AST \< 2 times upper limit of normal * No unrelated medical condition (e.g., renal or liver impairment) that would preclude chemotherapy treatment * No active infection * No known HIV positivity PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No radiotherapy within the past 6 weeks * No chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks * Prior IV etoposide allowed