Phase II Imatinib + Hydroxyurea in Treatment of Patients With Recurrent/Progressive Grade II Low-Grade Glioma (LGG)

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with grade II LGG that is recurrent/progressive following prior surgical resection while on non-decreasing dose of corticosteroids * \> 25percent enlargement of bidimensional measure/new lesions on sequential imaging new \&/or worsening neurologic deficits * Patients with progressive/recurrent optic pathway tumors * Patients have measurable disease on MRI/CT * Interval of \> 4 wks between prior external beam radiation therapy (XRT)/chemo,\& enrollment on protocol unless there is unequivocal evidence of tumor progression \& patient has recovered from all expected toxicities associated with prior therapy. Patients treated w chemo agents such as VP-16 who would normally be retreated after shorter intervals may be treated at usual starting time even if \< 4 wks from last prior dose of chemo * Patients not have had tumor biopsy \< 1 wk/surgical resection \< 2 wks prior to starting study drug * Patients enrolling on arm B must be on \> 1 enzyme inducing anticonvulsants for \>2 wks prior to starting study drug * Patients should be on non-increasing dose of steroids for \> 7 days prior to obtaining baseline Gd-MRI of brain * Patients should be on non-increasing dose of steroids for \> 7 days prior to starting study drug * Multifocal disease is eligible * Age \> 18 yrs old * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of \> 60 * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1.5 x 10 9/L * Hgb \> 9 g/dL * Platelets \> 100 x 10 9/L * K ≥ lower limit of normal (LLN)/correctab…