Perifosine in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed metastatic or locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma that is incurable by standard therapies, including any of the following types:

  * Uterine sarcomas

    * Mixed mesodermal
    * Leiomyosarcoma
    * Endometrial stromal sarcoma
  * Alveolar soft part sarcoma
  * Angiosarcoma/lymphangiosarcoma
  * Fibrosarcoma
  * Hemangiopericytoma
  * Leiomyosarcoma
  * Liposarcoma
  * Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
  * Neurogenic sarcoma
  * Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma
  * Synovial sarcoma
  * Unclassifiable sarcoma
  * Undifferentiated sarcoma
* Excluded diseases include the following:

  * Bone sarcomas (e.g., osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma)
  * Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma
  * Carcinosarcoma
  * Kaposi's sarcoma
  * Malignant mesothelioma
  * Neuroblastoma
  * Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable site of disease (outside the previously irradiated area) defined as:

  * At least 20 mm by x-ray or physical exam
  * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * At least 20 mm by non-spiral CT scan NOTE: Bone lesions are not considered measurable

NOTE: Patients whose sole site of disease is within a previously irradiated area are allowed if there is evidence of progression or new lesions in the irradiated field

* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic

* Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal

* Creatinine no greater than ULN

Cardiovascular

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure
* No unstable angina pectoris
* No cardiac arrhythmia

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No prior allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to perifosine
* No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix
* No active or ongoing infection
* No psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit compliance with study requirements
* No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* Not specified

Chemotherapy

* No prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic or locally advanced disease
* At least 6 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy
* No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

* Not specified

Radiotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (except low-dose, non-myelosuppressive radiotherapy)
* No concurrent radiotherapy to the sole site of measurable disease or for progressively symptomatic disease

Surgery

* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery

Other

* No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational agents