Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Progressive, Refractory, or Recurrent Stage II or Stage III Testicular or Ovarian Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Histologically confirmed pure testicular seminoma or ovarian germ cell dysgerminoma

Histologic documentation of metastatic/recurrent disease not required
Alpha-fetoprotein level must be normal, unless abnormal level is explained by other conditions and approved by the study chair
Clinical stage II or III

Progressive, refractory, or recurrent disease, meeting at least 1 of the following criteria:

Measurable progressive disease
Biopsy-proven residual disease
Persistently elevated or rising B-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titers, defined as at least 2 values above the upper limit of normal (ULN)

Cisplatin-refractory disease without option of potentially curative therapy, meeting 1 of the following criteria:

Failed high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) or autologous bone marrow transplantation (AuBMT)
Ineligible for or refused PBSCT or AuBMT
Unlikely to achieve long-term benefit from PBSCT or AuBMT

Current evidence of metastatic disease

Unidimensionally measurable target lesions

At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., physical examination for clinically palpable lymph nodes and superficial skin lesions or chest x-ray for clearly defined lung lesions surrounded by aerated lung)
At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI
If measurable disease is confined to a solitary lesion, then its neoplastic nature must be confirmed by histology
Ultrasound may not be used to measure tumor lesions that are not easily accessible clinically

Non-measurable/non-target lesions, with HCG at least ULN, including the following:

Bone lesions
Pleural or pericardial effusions
Ascites
CNS lesions
Leptomeningeal disease
Irradiated lesions, unless progression documented after radiotherapy
Performance status - ECOG 0-2
Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed)
Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
No other severe and/or uncontrolled concurrent medical illness
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
See Disease Characteristics
See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy
No concurrent chemotherapy
No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic
See Disease Characteristics
At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
Prior radiotherapy to a symptomatic lesion or one that may produce disability (e.g., unstable femur) allowed
No concurrent palliative radiotherapy
No concurrent grapefruit juice
No concurrent warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation (concurrent mini-dose warfarin [1 mg orally per day] as prophylaxis allowed)