Intrapleural BG00001 in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma or Malignant Pleural Effusions

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• One of the following histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnoses:
• * Malignant pleural mesothelioma
• * Metastatic malignancy to the pleural space
• * Originating from 1 of the following sites:
• * Lung
• * Breast
• * Gastrointestinal organs
• * Genitourinary organs
• * Malignant melanoma
• * Failed prior standard therapy comprising chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• Pleural space involved with tumor accessible for pleural catheter insertion
• No malignant pleural effusions secondary to lymphoma or sarcoma
• No rapidly re-accumulating, symptomatic pleural effusions after thoracentesis or pleural catheter insertion that require immediate mechanical or chemical pleurodesis
• No known brain metastases
• * Previously treated brain metastases with no evidence of active growth are allowed
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• 18 and over
• Sex
• Male or female
• Menopausal status
• Not specified
• Performance status
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hematocrit at least 30% (transfusion allowed)
• Hepatic
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• PT and PTT no greater than 1.5 times normal
• No end-stage liver disease
• No chronic active hepatitis B (hepatitis B surface antigen negative)
• Renal
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• No end-stage renal disease
• Cardiovascular
• No unstable angina
• Pulmonary
• FEV\_1 greater than 50% of predicted (post-pleural drainage)
• No severe oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• No documented immunodeficiency
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or successfully treated localized malignancy of the bladder or prostate gland with no evidence of active disease
• No other life-threatening illness
• No known hypersensitivity to any component of study treatment
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• No prior bone marrow transplantation, including stem cells
• No immunological drugs during and for at least 2 months after study therapy
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• No chemotherapy during and for at least 2 months after study therapy
• Endocrine therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed if maintained at dose received prior to study entry
• No concurrent steroids
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No radiotherapy during and for at least 2 months after study therapy
• Surgery
• At least 2 weeks since prior surgery
• Other
• More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic agents
• No concurrent immunosuppressives or medication that can directly or indirectly suppress the immune system
• No other concurrent experimental therapies for pleural cancer