Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with serologically documented HIV
infection

- No symptomatic visceral KS requiring cytotoxic therapy unless refractory to or
intolerant of all currently approved agents for visceral KS

- At least 5 measurable lesions

- No prior local therapy to any indicator lesion unless clear progression has
taken place since treatment

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 16 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm3

- Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3

- Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 3.5
mg/dL if secondary to indinavir therapy provided direct bilirubin normal)

- AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Other:

- No acute, active opportunistic infection within the past 14 days except oral thrush
or genital herpes

- No other serious medical illness within the past 14 days

- No other malignancy requiring cytotoxic therapy

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy for KS and recovered

Chemotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for KS and recovered

- No concurrent systemic chemotherapy for KS

Endocrine therapy:

- No concurrent corticosteroids except replacement doses

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for KS and recovered

Other:

- All antiretroviral therapy must be at a stable dose for at least the past 4 weeks and
during treatment

- At least 3 weeks since prior local therapy for KS and recovered

- At least 3 weeks since prior investigational therapy for KS and recovered

- At least 14 days since prior acute treatment of infections other than thrush and
genital herpes

- Recovered from toxic effects of any other prior KS treatment

- No other concurrent investigational drugs except investigational new drug
(IND)-available antiretroviral agents

- No other concurrent KS-specific treatment