DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed stage IV mesothelioma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists

  • Evidence of disease by CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 1 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
• Hepatic function adequate

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
• No renal insufficiency
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

• No serious lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
• Not at high medical or psychiatric risk
• No nonmalignant systemic disease
• No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered
• No concurrent immunomodulatory agents

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (or less if multiple tumors) and recovered

Surgery:

• Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed
• No prior antineoplastons
• No other concurrent antineoplastic agents