Troglitazone in Treating Patients With Liposarcoma

OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the clinical activity of troglitazone in patients with malignant liposarcoma stratified by histologic subtype.

II. To perform correlative imaging, biological, and biochemical testing of patients in order to define the degree to which in vivo terminal differentiation may be promoted by this therapeutic intervention.

III. To evaluate the tolerance and safety of troglitazone in this patient population.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL:

Initially, 14 patients of each of the 5 histologic subtypes of liposarcoma will be accrued. If 1 or more patients show evidence of biological response, an additional 16 patients of each subtype will be accrued for a total of 30 patients per subtype. If 4 or more of 30 patients achieve biological response then troglitazone will be deemed promising in that histologic subtype.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven liposarcoma that is incurable by standard surgery Measurable or evaluable disease required No active CNS involvement or leptomeningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT less than 5 times upper normal limit Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No poorly controlled atrial arrhythmias, angina pectoris, or myocardial infarction within past 6 months No symptomatic congestive heart failure, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft within past 3 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No known active retroviral disease

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Recovered from toxic effects of all prior therapy No concurrent cytotoxic therapy Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Prior chemotherapy allowed Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: Prior radiation therapy for metastatic disease allowed No radiotherapy to sole site of measurable disease within past 6 months Surgery: Not specified