DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) involving the skin, lymph nodes, oral cavity, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and/or lungs

  • GI or pulmonary involvement must be asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic
• At least 5 measurable, cutaneous lesions that can be used as indicator lesions
• HIV positive by ELISA, Western Blot, or other federally approved, licensed HIV test

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3
• No prior noniatrogenic bleeding disorder

Hepatic:

• AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Total bilirubin normal (less than 3.5 mg/dL if elevation secondary to indinavir, and direct bilirubin normal)
• PT and PTT less than 1.2 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

• No evidence of prior myocardial infarction or cardiac ischemia

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study
• No active opportunistic infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior blood products
• At least 2 weeks since prior filgrastim (G-CSF) or epoetin alfa

Chemotherapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior antineoplastic treatment for KS and recovered
• No concurrent systemic chemotherapy for KS
• No concurrent systemic chemotherapy for other neoplasia

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent oral contraceptives, megestrol, or testosterone allowed

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy to indicator lesions
• No concurrent radiotherapy for KS

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No prior local therapy to any KS indicator lesion unless there is clear evidence of progression
• At least 2 weeks since prior acute treatment for infection or other serious medical illness
• Prior highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) allowed
• Concurrent HAART allowed if on optimal, stable regimen for a minimum of 4 weeks before study
• Concurrent antipyretics, analgesics, allergy medications, antidepressants, or sleep medications allowed
• Concurrent vitamins, acupuncture, or visual techniques allowed
• No other concurrent investigational drugs
• No other concurrent therapy for KS
• No concurrent rifampin, phenytoin, or phenobarbital