17-N-Allylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin in Treating Patients With Systemic Mastocytosis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed systemic mastocytosis * Objective evidence of disease, as defined by the following: * Hemoglobin \< 10 g/dL * Recurrent mast cell mediator-release symptoms that impair the patient's quality of life * Symptomatic hepatosplenomegaly * Ascites * Symptomatic bone disease * Profound constitutional symptoms (e.g., fatigue, asthenia, flushing, hyperpyrexia, weight loss, myalgia, and arthralgia) * Elevated serum tryptase level * Mast cell leukemia allowed * Mastocytosis associated with myeloproliferative disease (e.g., hypereosinophilic syndrome or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) allowed * Patients with eosinophilia (i.e., absolute eosinophil count ≥ 1,000/mm\^3) must be evaluated for the presence or absence of FIP1L1-PDGFRA mutation; if the mutation is absent, the patient is eligible; if the mutation is present, the patient is eligible provided disease is refractory to imatinib mesylate * Patients with indolent disease must have a serum tryptase level ≥ 50 ng/mL OR episodes of anaphylaxis that occur with a frequency of \> 1 per month PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * See Disease Characteristics * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 (\> 25,000/mm\^3 for patients with organomegaly) * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3(\> 750/mm\^3 for patients with organomegaly) Hepatic * AST and ALT ≤ 2 times upper…