Temozolomide and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Metastatic, Locally Advanced, or Unresectable Leiomyosarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed leiomyosarcoma

  * Metastatic, locally advanced, or unresectable
* Ineligible for other high priority national or institutional study
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion documented on radiologic study

  * At least 2 cm by 2 cm
  * Not previously irradiated unless disease progression at the site is evident
* No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* SWOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 2 months

Hematopoietic:

* WBC greater than 3,000/mm\^3
* Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count greater than 70,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin less than upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT or SGPT less than 1.5 times ULN\*
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times ULN\* NOTE: \* Less than 5 times ULN if documented liver disease

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 1.5 times normal OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min
* BUN less than 1.5 times normal

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception for 4 weeks before, during, and for 4 weeks after study therapy
* No acute infection requiring systemic antibiotics
* No frequent vomiting or medical condition that would preclude intake of oral medication (e.g., partial bowel obstruction)
* No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation
* No prior malignancy except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* No more than 3 prior systemic chemotherapy regimens for metastatic, locally advanced, or unresectable leiomyosarcoma
* Prior dacarbazine allowed

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No prior radiotherapy to 50% or more of bone marrow
* Concurrent radiotherapy for local control or palliative therapy for painful bony or soft tissue lesion allowed

Surgery:

* At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other:

* Recovered from all prior therapies
* No other concurrent investigational drugs