Phase II Study Of ET-743 In Patients With Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma
that is not amenable to curative surgery At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
that is at least 15 mm by CT scan OR At least 1 bidimensionally measurable lesion that is
at least 10 mm by CT scan Lesions in previously irradiated area are not considered
measurable unless there is evidence of progression No symptomatic brain or leptomeningeal
involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 OR Karnofsky
70-100% Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least
1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic:
Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than
ULN unless bone metastases are present AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Albumin at
least 2.5 g/dL No chronic active liver disease Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
OR Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled heart disease
No uncontrolled hypertension Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for one month after study No
other serious illness or medical condition No history of significant neurological or
psychiatric disorders No significant active infection No other concurrent neoplastic
disease except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prophylactic hematopoietic
colony-stimulating factors (e.g., filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF))
Chemotherapy: No prior systemic chemotherapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine
therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least
30 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy except
palliative local radiotherapy to non-target lesions Surgery: See Disease Characteristics
At least 14 days since prior pleurodesis Recovered from prior surgery Other: At least 30
days since prior participation in another therapeutic clinical trial or therapy with other
investigational drugs No concurrent treatment for other neoplastic disease No other
concurrent experimental anticancer medication