DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma
• No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• ZUBROD, ECOG, WHO 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL
• WBC at least 4,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin less than 1.46 mg/dL
• Albumin at least 3.0 g/dL
• ALAT/ASAT less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (less than 5 times ULN if liver involvement)

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.69 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance at least 65 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• Not specified

Pulmonary:

• Not specified

Other:

• No other prior or concurrent malignancies within past 5 years except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
• No prior malignant melanoma, hypernephroma or breast carcinoma
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
• No uncontrolled infections
• No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that precludes study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• No concurrent immunotherapy before first disease progression

Chemotherapy:

• No prior systemic or intracavitary cytotoxic chemotherapy
• No other prior or concurrent chemotherapy before first disease progression
• No prior or concurrent pleurodesis with cytotoxic drugs (e.g., bleomycin)

Endocrine therapy:

• No concurrent hormonal therapy except corticosteroids before first disease progression

Radiotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to target lesion and progression observed
• Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to painful lesions allowed only if target lesion outside of irradiated field

Surgery:

• Prior surgery allowed if followed by disease progression

Other:

• At least 1 month since prior investigational drugs