Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- CALGB groups 1-4

- No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 21 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC greater than 3,500/mm^3

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal

- Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL

- PT and PTT normal

Renal:

- Creatinine normal

Cardiovascular:

- No symptomatic New York Heart Association class II-IV cardiovascular disease

- No congestive heart failure

- No angina pectoris

- No cardiac arrhythmias

- No uncontrolled hypertension

- No cerebrovascular disease

Metabolic:

- No serum calcium, phosphate, electrolyte, or other metabolic abnormalities, such as
metabolic acidosis

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No serious infection

- No uncontrolled psychosis or neurologic disease (e.g., seizure disorders)

- No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

- No other primary malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

- No senility or emotional instability

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No more than one prior systemic chemotherapy regimen

- No prior doxorubicin

- At least 6 weeks since prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- Prior radiotherapy for progressive or recurrent disease allowed except myocardium
radiotherapy

Surgery:

- Prior surgical resection allowed