Study of LBH589 (Panobinostat) to Treat Malignant Brain Tumors

Inclusion Criteria: * Recurrent malignant glioma with radiographic progression * No more than three prior therapies. * Male or female patients \>=18 years old * KPS \>=60. * Ability to provide written informed consent or consent obtained from responsible healthcare proxy. * Contrast-enhanced MRI within 2 weeks of enrollment. * Life expectancy \>= 8 weeks * Neutrophils \>1500/mm3 * Platelets \> 100,000/mm3L * Hemoglobin \>=9 g/dL * AST/SGOT and ALT/SGPT \<= 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or \< 5.0 x ULN if the transaminase elevation is due to disease involvement * Serum bilirubin \<= 1.5 x ULN * Serum creatinine \<= 1.5 x ULN or 24-hour creatinine clearance \>= 50 ml/min * Total serum calcium or ionized calcium WNL * Serum potassium WNL * Serum sodium WNL * Serum albumin \>= LLN or 3g/dl * Elevated Alkaline Phosphatase due to bone metastasis can be enrolled * Baseline MUGA or ECHO must demonstrate LVEF \>= the LLN * TSH and free T4 WNL (patients may be on thyroid hormone replacement) * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of the first administration of study treatment and must be willing to use two methods of contraception one of them being a barrier method during the study and for 3 months after last study drug administration. * No concurrent antitumor therapy. * No enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs. * No significant comorbidities * Patients must have recovered from toxic effects of prior therapy. Exclusion criteria * Prior HDAC, DAC, HSP90 inhibitors or valproic acid for the treatment of cancer * Valproic acid for any medical condition during the study or within 5 days prior to first LBH589 treatment * Impaired cardiac function including: * Screening ECG with a QTc \> 450 msec * Congenital long QT syndrome * History of sustained ventricular tachycardia * History of ventricular fibrillation or torsades de pointes * Bradycardia \< 50 beats per minute. Patients with a pacemaker and heart rate \> = 50 beats per minute are eligible. * Myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months * Congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) * RBBB and LAH (bifascicular block) * Uncontrolled hypertension * Concomitant use of drugs with a risk of causing torsades de pointes Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors * Patients with unresolved diarrhea * Impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter absorption of LBH589 * Concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions * Chemotherapy, any investigational drug or major surgery \< 4 weeks prior to starting study drug or have not recovered from side effects of such therapy. * Concomitant use of any anti-cancer therapy or radiation therapy. * Women who are pregnant or breast feeding or women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) not willing to use a double barrier method of contraception during the study and 3 months after the end of treatment. One of these methods of contraception must be a barrier method. * Male patients whose sexual partners are WOCBP not using a double method of contraception during the study and 3 months after the end of treatment. One of these methods must be a condom * History of another primary malignancy within 5 years other than curatively treated CIS of the cervix, or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin * Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C positivity * Significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or inability to grant a reliable informed consent * More than three prior therapies * Hepatic or renal diseases or any diseases that will obscure toxicity or alter drug metabolism * Known active malignancies * Active infection requiring iv antibiotics * Systemic anticoagulants * Enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs