Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Progressive Systemic Mastocytosis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis

  * Aggressive or borderline (smoldering) disease (in first line or more)
  * Relapsed or progressive disease
* Measurable or evaluable disease
* Presence of c-Kit D816V mutation in the skin, spine, or infiltrated organs
* No nonsymptomatic mastocytosis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Life expectancy \> 3 months
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 1 month prior to, during, and until first menstrual cycle after completion of study treatment
* Bilirubin \< 2 times normal (unrelated to disease)
* Liver enzymes \< 2 times normal (unrelated to disease)
* Creatinine ≤ 300 mmol/L
* No central or peripheral neuropathy leading to psychiatric concerns
* No HIV positivity
* No active infection or other serious underlying illness that would preclude treatment
* No history of thromboembolism or deep vein thrombosis
* No geographical, social, or psychological reasons preventing medical monitoring

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* More than 4 weeks since prior antitumor therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
* No other concurrent treatment specific for this disease
* No concurrent participation in another experimental drug trial