Perifosine and Torisel (Temsirolimus) for Recurrent/Progressive Malignant Gliomas

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed intracranial glioblastoma (GBM), including sub variants * At least 15 unstained slides or at least 1 tissue blocks must be collected from at least one prior surgery. * Received prior radiotherapy and prior temozolomide as treatment for the malignant glioma * Recovered from toxic effects of prior therapies and at least 2 weeks must have elapsed since any prior signaling pathway modulators; in general, at least 4 weeks must have elapsed from any other anticancer therapy * Able to undergo contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans or CT scans * Shown unequivocal evidence for contrast enhancing tumor progression by MRI or CT in comparison to a prior scan * Age \> or = 18 years * Karnofsky Performance Status \> or = 70 * Life expectancy of \> 8 weeks * Normal organ and marrow function, adequate liver function, and adequate renal function before starting therapy * Platelet count of at least 100,000/mm3 on at least 2 consecutive blood draws at least 1 week apart with results stable or trending upward * Normal coagulation * Cholesterol level \< or = 350 mg/dl and triglycerides level \< or = 400 mg/dl * Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) pregnancy test documented within 7 days prior to treatment * Women must agree not to breast feed * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document * Ability to swallow tablets Group A (medical) specific inclusion criteria: * Fulfill all of the general inclusion criteria * At least 3 months between any prior brain radiotherapy and initiation of study therapy * MRI/CT must demonstrate measurable enhancing tumor of at least 1cm squared in cross-sectional area to allow assessment of radiographic response * On stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids for a minimum of 5 days before the baseline MRI/CT * The baseline brain MRI/CT must be performed less than 15 days prior to initiation of study treatment. Otherwise it must be repeated Group B (surgical) specific inclusion criteria: * Fulfill all of the general inclusion criteria * Have cytoreductive surgery as part of their routine care for recurrent tumor * Have cytoreductive surgery as part of their routine care for recurrent tumor * A brain MRI/CT must be performed less than 15 days prior to initiation of study treatment. Otherwise it must be repeated Exclusion Criteria: * There is no limit on the number or type of prior chemotherapies except: 1. convection enhanced delivery, catheter based intra-tumoral treatment, or carmustine (BCNU)/Gliadel® wafers 2. stereotactic radiosurgery, or re-irradiation of any type 3. agent designed to inhibit mTOR or PI3K/AKT 4. direct Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)/Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors (VEGFR) inhibitors * Smoking or plan to smoke tobacco or marijuana during study therapy * Plan to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice during study therapy * Receiving any other investigational agents concurrently with study treatment * Taking hepatic Enzyme Inducing Anti-Epileptic Drug (EIAED) * Taking medications that are inducers or inhibitors of Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) for at least two weeks prior to study treatment * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness * HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy * Other active concurrent malignancy * History of gout which can be exacerbated by perifosine * Known history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to temsirolimus or perifosine * Therapeutic anticoagulation * History of hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke * Prior intratumoral bleeding must be evaluated with a non-contrast head CT to exclude acute blood prior to start of treatment