Oblimersen in Treating Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically or cytologically confirmed Merkel cell carcinoma
• •* Metastatic OR regionally recurrent disease
• •* Localized disease not amenable to curative therapy (surgery or radiotherapy) also allowed
• •Measurable disease
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •No known brain metastases
• •* Previously resected or irradiated brain metastases allowed if stable for at least the past 3 months and no evidence of neurological compromise exists
• •Performance status - Karnofsky 60-100%
• •Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
• •WBC \>= 3,000/mm\^3
• •AST/ALT =\< 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• •Bilirubin normal
• •INR =\< 1.5
• •Creatinine normal
• •Creatinine clearance \>= 60 mL/min
• •No atrial fibrillation unless stable for at least the past 6 months
• •No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• •No unstable angina pectoris
• •No cardiac arrhythmia
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •Adequate venous access
• •No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1
• •No active or ongoing infection
• •No other concurrent uncontrolled illness
• •No prior grade 3 or 4 anaphylactic reaction to phosphorothioate oligonucleotide
• •No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
• •More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• •More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• •No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow
• •More than 3 weeks since prior investigational therapy and recovered
• •No prior oblimersen
• •No other concurrent investigational agents
• •No concurrent anticoagulation except 1 mg of warfarin for mediport patency
• •No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients