Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma or Bone Sarcoma

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or unresectable locally advanced (stage IV or recurrent) soft tissue or bone sarcoma
• * Eligible subtypes:
• * Ewing's family (e.g., primitive neuroectodermal tumor)
• * Osteosarcoma
• * Synovial sarcoma
• * Rhabdomyosarcoma (e.g., alveolar, embryonal, or pleomorphic)
• * Liposarcoma (all variants)
• * Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• * Peripheral nerve sheath (e.g., malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, neurofibrosarcoma, or schwannoma)
• * Fibrosarcoma
• * Angiosarcoma (all variants)
• * Failed standard therapy with no available salvage regimens
• Unidimensionally measurable target lesions by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, PET, or physical examination
• * Must be outside prior irradiation fields or have documented disease progression at least 6 weeks after completion of prior radiotherapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 10 and over
• Performance status:
• Not specified
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Not specified
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST less than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 1 week after study participation for female patients and for at least 3 months after study participation for male patients
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• Not specified
• Endocrine therapy:
• No hormonal birth control
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 28 days since any prior systemic therapy