Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed pleural malignant mesothelioma, meeting 1 of the following
criteria:

- Recurrent disease after radical surgery

- Disease not considered suitable for radical treatment

- Measurable or evaluable disease

- No clinical evidence of brain or leptomeningeal metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- WHO performance status 0-1

- Life expectancy > 12 weeks

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm³

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm³

- Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min OR > 50 mL/min

- ALT and AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (< 5 times ULN if liver
metastases present)

- Bilirubin < 1.5 times ULN

- No concurrent secondary malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or
adequately treated basal cell skin cancer

- No other malignancy treated within the past 5 years

- Melanoma, breast cancer, or hypernephroma treated within the past 5 years and
without recurrence are allowed

- No uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

- Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure

- Uncontrolled angina

- Clinically significant pericardial disease or cardiac amyloidosis

- No infiltrative pulmonary or pericardial disease

- No preexisting peripheral neuropathy

- No known or suspected allergy or intolerance to boron, mannitol, or heparin, if an
indwelling catheter is used

- No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would
preclude protocol compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior systemic chemotherapy for mesothelioma

- No other concurrent antineoplastic agents except medications that may have
antineoplastic activity but are taken for other reasons (e.g., megestrol acetate,
cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, or bisphosphonates)

- No other concurrent experimental agents