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

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