Immunotoxin Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

RATIONALE: Immunotoxins can locate tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. Immunotoxin therapy may be an effective treatment for advanced cancer. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of immunotoxins in treating patients who have advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the maximum tolerated dose and toxic effects of SS1(dsFv)-PE38 immunotoxin in patients with advanced malignancies that express mesothelin. Secondary * Determine the response in patients treated with this drug. * Determine the plasma pharmacokinetics of this drug in these patients. OUTLINE: This is an open-label, dose-escalation study. Patients receive SS1(dsFv)-PE38 immunotoxin IV continuously on days 1-10. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for a maximum of 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of SS1(dsFv)-PE38 immunotoxin until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 30 patients will be accrued for this study.