AZD2171 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

Criteria: * AST/ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal OR creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min * Measurable contrast-enhancing tumor \>= 1 cm in longest diameter by baseline MRI or CT scan: * Patient must have been on no steroids OR a stable dose of steroids for \>= 5 days prior to baseline MRI or CT scan * Patients who are on steroids must be maintained on a stable corticosteroid regimen from baseline scan until the start of study treatment * No intratumoral or peritumoral hemorrhage by MRI * Karnofsky performance status \>= 60% * No other concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast * Mini-mental status examination score \>= 15 * Histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme * Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin \>= 8 g/dL * Bilirubin normal * No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to AZD2171 * Mean QTc =\< 470 msec (with Bazett's correction) on screening electrocardiogram * No history of familial long QT syndrome * No greater than +1 proteinuria on 2 consecutive dipsticks taken \>= 1 week apart unless first urinalysis shows no protein * No uncontrolled intercurrent illness, including, but not limited to, any of the following: Hypertension; Ongoing or active infection; Symptomatic congestive heart failure; Unstable angina pectoris; Cardiac arrhythmia; Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * No known coagulopathy that increases the risk of bleeding * No history of clinically significant hemorrhages * Recovered from toxicity of prior therapy * At least 3 months since prior radiation therapy, including cranial radiation therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) * At least 3 weeks since prior molecularly-targeted agents * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery * No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens or antineoplastic drugs * More than 30 days since prior participation in an investigational trial * At least 2 weeks since prior enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) * No concurrent EIAEDs; Concurrent non-EIAEDs allowed * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors: Prior thalidomide or lenolidomide allowed * No concurrent anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) or antiplatelet agents including aspirin * No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies * No concurrent grapefruit juice * WBC \>= 3,000/mm3 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm3