DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed malignancy that is metastatic or unresectable and for which no standard curative therapy exists or palliative measures are no longer effective

  • Hematological malignancies

    • Philadelphia chromosome-positive patients should be enrolled on another NCI or Novartis trial, if possible
  • Myeloproliferative disorders

  • Any solid tumor, and especially:

    • Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
    • Gliomas
• No untreated (unirradiated) or unstable brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 16 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3 OR
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin normal
• AST/ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Abnormal kidney function allowed

Cardiovascular:

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

Other:

• No seizures within the past month (for patients with glioma)
• No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study entry
• No ongoing or active infection
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study consent
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 6 months after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Prior immunotherapy allowed
• No concurrent colony-stimulating factor therapy

Chemotherapy:

• More than 24 hours since prior hydroxyurea to maintain WBC count in leukemia patients
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Endocrine therapy:

• Prior hormonal therapy allowed
• Concurrent corticosteroids must be at a stable dose
• No concurrent oral contraceptives

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• No prior liver, kidney, or lung transplantation
• At least 14 days since prior major surgery (e.g., thoracotomy or intra-abdominal surgery)

Other:

• Prior imatinib mesylate allowed
• No other concurrent investigational agents
• No concurrent therapeutic doses of warfarin
• No concurrent tacrolimus or cyclosporine as an immunosuppressive agent
• No concurrent herbal supplements, vitamins, or other nontraditional compounds
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No concurrent acetaminophen of more than 4,000 mg total daily dose
• Concurrent anticonvulsants must be at a stable dose
• Concurrent renal dialysis allowed