ONCONASE Plus Doxorubicin Versus Doxorubicin Alone For Patients With Malignant Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma Who Have Had No More Than One Prior Chemotherapy Regimen

You may be eligible if

• 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