Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically confirmed chondrosarcoma

- Histologic grade G2 or G3

- Recurrent and unresectable OR metastatic disease

- Measurable disease by x-ray, scan, ultrasound, or physical examination

- No known CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT or SGPT < 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present)

Renal

- Creatinine clearance > 45 mL/min

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Able to swallow oral medication

- No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or
squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or adequately treated
stage I or II cancer in complete remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- More than 28 days since prior biologic therapy for this malignancy

Chemotherapy

- More than 28 days since prior chemotherapy for this malignancy

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- At least 60 days since prior radiotherapy to the target lesion*

- No concurrent radiotherapy NOTE: *Target lesion must have demonstrated disease
progression after completion of therapy

Surgery

- At least 21 days since prior surgery and recovered

Other

- More than 28 days since prior investigational drugs for this malignancy

- At least 60 days since prior embolization or radiofrequency ablation to the target
lesion*

- No more than 2 prior treatment regimens for this malignancy

- No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients NOTE: *Target lesion
must have demonstrated disease progression after completion of therapy