SU5416 in Treating Patients With AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven, cutaneous AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) Must have failed at least 1 standard chemotherapy regimen for KS Chemotherapy refractory (progressed during anthracycline-based or paclitaxel therapy) OR Chemotherapy intolerant (hypersensitivity to drug or unacceptable toxicity) HIV positive At least 5 measurable cutaneous lesions No prior radiotherapy or intradermal therapy to indicator lesions OR KS-related generalized edema or edema of the extremities without evidence of active cutaneous lesions PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 500/mm3 Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3 Hepatic: AST no greater than 5.0 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL (no greater than 3.0 mg/dL if concurrent indinavir therapy) Renal: No history of renal failure Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within the past year No severe or unstable angina No history of unstable atherosclerotic coronary artery disease requiring coronary or peripheral artery bypass surgery within the past 2 years Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No known hypersensitivity to Cremophor or Cremophor based drug product No uncontrolled serious infection such as: Pneumocystis carinii…