OBJECTIVES:
* Evaluate the activity of gemcitabine plus docetaxel administered with filgrastim (G-CSF) support, in terms of disease response, in patients with recurrent or persistent unresectable leiomyosarcoma or other soft tissue sarcoma.
* Determine the tolerability of this regimen in these patients.
* Correlate response with tumor expression of the apoptosis-regulating proteins bax, bcl-2, and survivin in these patients.
OUTLINE: Patients are stratified according to prior radiotherapy to the pelvis (yes vs no).
Patients receive gemcitabine IV over 90 minutes on days 1 and 8 followed by docetaxel IV over 1 hour on day 8 and filgrastim (G-CSF) subcutaneously on days 9-15. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with a partial response may receive 2 additional courses of therapy.
Patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year or until disease progression.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 38-82 patients (19-43 with uterine leiomyosarcoma and 19-39 with other soft tissue sarcoma) will be accrued for this study.
