Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Progressive, Refractory, or Recurrent Stage II or Stage III Testicular or Ovarian Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed pure testicular seminoma or ovarian germ cell dysgerminoma

  * Histologic documentation of metastatic/recurrent disease not required
* Alpha-fetoprotein level must be normal, unless abnormal level is explained by other conditions and approved by the study chair
* Clinical stage II or III
* Progressive, refractory, or recurrent disease, meeting at least 1 of the following criteria:

  * Measurable progressive disease
  * Biopsy-proven residual disease
  * Persistently elevated or rising B-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titers, defined as at least 2 values above the upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Cisplatin-refractory disease without option of potentially curative therapy, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

  * Failed high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) or autologous bone marrow transplantation (AuBMT)
  * Ineligible for or refused PBSCT or AuBMT
  * Unlikely to achieve long-term benefit from PBSCT or AuBMT
* Current evidence of metastatic disease

  * Unidimensionally measurable target lesions

    * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., physical examination for clinically palpable lymph nodes and superficial skin lesions or chest x-ray for clearly defined lung lesions surrounded by aerated lung)
    * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI
    * If measurable disease is confined to a solitary lesion, then its neoplastic nature must be confirmed by histology
    * Ultrasound may not be used to measure tumor lesions that are not easily accessible clinically
* Non-measurable/non-target lesions, with HCG at least ULN, including the following:

  * Bone lesions
  * Pleural or pericardial effusions
  * Ascites
  * CNS lesions
  * Leptomeningeal disease
  * Irradiated lesions, unless progression documented after radiotherapy
* Performance status - ECOG 0-2
* Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
* No other severe and/or uncontrolled concurrent medical illness
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
* See Disease Characteristics
* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
* No concurrent chemotherapy
* No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic
* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* Prior radiotherapy to a symptomatic lesion or one that may produce disability (e.g., unstable femur) allowed
* No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
* No concurrent grapefruit juice
* No concurrent warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation (concurrent mini-dose warfarin \[1 mg orally per day\] as prophylaxis allowed)