Epothilone ZK-219477 in Treating Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed glioblastoma * Presence of oligodendroglial elements allowed provided they make up \< 25% of tumor * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 bidimensionally measurable target lesion with a largest diameter of ≥ 2 cm by MRI within the past 2 weeks * Recurrent disease * Documented by MRI after failing prior therapy (usually standard radiotherapy with concurrent and maintenance temozolomide) * Subsequent histologic confirmation of recurrence required for patients who received prior high-dose radiotherapy (\> 65 Gy), stereotactic radiosurgery, or internal radiotherapy * Multifocal disease that is not amenable to radiotherapy allowed provided the patient received no more than 1 line of prior chemotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and ALT \< 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase \< 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine \< 1.5 times ULN * Clinically normal cardiac function * No ischemic heart disease within the past 12 months * Stable ischemic heart disease (e.g., treated angina that is stable under appropriate therapy) allowed * No New York Heart Association class III or IV cardiac insufficiency * No unstable angina * No arrhythmia * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical factors that would preclude study compliance * No other malignancy except cone-biopsied carcinoma of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile female patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * Fertile male patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) * More than 3 months since prior radiotherapy to the brain * More than 3 months since prior surgery for recurrent primary brain tumor unless 1 of the following criteria are met: * Measurable residual disease documented by immediate (within 72 hours) postoperative imaging * Evidence of a progressive and measurable target lesion found at postoperative follow-up * Presence of a second measurable target lesion outside the surgical area * Prior adjuvant temozolomide as first-line therapy allowed * No prior chemotherapy for recurrent glioblastoma * One prior chemotherapy regimen given as adjuvant therapy allowed * Concurrent corticosteroids allowed provided dose is stable or decreasing for ≥ 1 week * No concurrent phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital * No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * No concurrent enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAEDs) * Patients on EIAEDs should have been switched to non-EIAEDs with a wash-out period of ≥ 1 month * No other concurrent anticancer agents (except alternative or homeopathic medicine) * No other concurrent investigational treatment