Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Progressive Systemic Mastocytosis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis

  • Aggressive or borderline (smoldering) disease (in first line or more)
  • Relapsed or progressive disease
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• Presence of c-Kit D816V mutation in the skin, spine, or infiltrated organs
• No nonsymptomatic mastocytosis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Life expectancy > 3 months
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 1 month prior to, during, and until first menstrual cycle after completion of study treatment
• Bilirubin \< 2 times normal (unrelated to disease)
• Liver enzymes \< 2 times normal (unrelated to disease)
• Creatinine ≤ 300 mmol/L
• No central or peripheral neuropathy leading to psychiatric concerns
• No HIV positivity
• No active infection or other serious underlying illness that would preclude treatment
• No history of thromboembolism or deep vein thrombosis
• No geographical, social, or psychological reasons preventing medical monitoring

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• More than 4 weeks since prior antitumor therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy)
• No other concurrent treatment specific for this disease
• No concurrent participation in another experimental drug trial