Pilot Study of Vardenafil and Carboplatin in Patients With Gliomas and Brain Metastases

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with recurrent malignant glioma or metastatic brain cancer requiring craniotomy for gross total resection, subtotal resection or biopsy * Previously histopathologically proven glioma or radiographic appearance of metastatic lesion with a primary neoplasm that is known to metastasize to the brain * Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60% (i.e. the patient must be able to care for himself/herself with occasional help from others) * Patients must have normal hematologic, renal and liver function (i.e. Hemoglobin \>10 gm/dl, Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1500/mm3, Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dl or Cr Clearance ≥ 60 mL/min, total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dl, transaminases ≤ 4 times above the upper limits of the institutional normal. * Patients must be able to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with serious concurrent infection or medical illness, which would jeopardize the ability of the patient to receive the treatment outlined in this protocol with reasonable safety * Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding * Patients receiving concurrent therapy for their tumor (i.e. chemotherapeutics or investigational agents) * Allergy to 5HT-(3) receptor antagonist including tropisetron, ondansetron * Patients on enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (Dilantin, Tegretol, Phenobarbital) * Patients with unstable angina or serious cardiovascular disease * Known HIV positivity or AIDS-related illness * History of allergic reaction to platinum compounds or mannitol * Medical conditions requiring the use of oral nitrates * Patients on alpha-1 adrenergic blockers