Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- One of the following histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnoses:

- Malignant pleural mesothelioma

- Metastatic malignancy to the pleural space

- Originating from 1 of the following sites:

- Lung

- Breast

- Gastrointestinal organs

- Genitourinary organs

- Malignant melanoma

- Failed prior standard therapy comprising chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or
hormonal therapy

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- Pleural space involved with tumor accessible for pleural catheter insertion

- No malignant pleural effusions secondary to lymphoma or sarcoma

- No rapidly re-accumulating, symptomatic pleural effusions after thoracentesis or
pleural catheter insertion that require immediate mechanical or chemical pleurodesis

- No known brain metastases

- Previously treated brain metastases with no evidence of active growth are
allowed

- Hormone receptor status:

- Not specified

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Sex

- Male or female

Menopausal status

- Not specified

Performance status

- ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

- Hematocrit at least 30% (transfusion allowed)

Hepatic

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- ALT and AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times ULN

- PT and PTT no greater than 1.5 times normal

- No end-stage liver disease

- No chronic active hepatitis B (hepatitis B surface antigen negative)

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

- No end-stage renal disease

Cardiovascular

- No unstable angina

Pulmonary

- FEV_1 greater than 50% of predicted (post-pleural drainage)

- No severe oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- HIV negative

- No documented immunodeficiency

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or
successfully treated localized malignancy of the bladder or prostate gland with no
evidence of active disease

- No other life-threatening illness

- No known hypersensitivity to any component of study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy

- No prior bone marrow transplantation, including stem cells

- No immunological drugs during and for at least 2 months after study therapy

Chemotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- No chemotherapy during and for at least 2 months after study therapy

Endocrine therapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed if maintained at dose received prior to study
entry

- No concurrent steroids

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No radiotherapy during and for at least 2 months after study therapy

Surgery

- At least 2 weeks since prior surgery

Other

- More than 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic agents

- No concurrent immunosuppressives or medication that can directly or indirectly
suppress the immune system

- No other concurrent experimental therapies for pleural cancer