cci-779 in treating patients with soft tissue sarcoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Conditions: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor; Recurrent Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Stage I Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Stage II Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Stage III Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Stage IV Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Summary: this phase ii trial is studying how well cci-779 works in treating patients with soft tissue sarcoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor. drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cci-779, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

primary objectives: i. to assess the antitumor activity of cci-779 in this patient population. secondary objectives: i. to assess the following in patients with soft tissue sarcomas and following treatment with cci-779: duration of response, time to progression, survival. tertiary objectives: i. to describe and correlate the following with patient characteristics and outcome in this patient population and following treatment with cci-779: relative levels of 4ebp1 to eif4e, phospho 4ebp1, total and phospho ribosomal s6 on pretreatment tumor tissue, expression levels of egfr, activated egfr, her2, c-myc, phospho akt, total akt, phospho-mtor and total mtor on pretreatment tumor tissue, drug induced inhibition of p70s6 kinase activity, and phosphorylation of s6 in pbmc, relative levels of serum sirolimus in post-treatment samples. outline: patients receive cci-779 iv over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. patients achieving a complete response (cr) receive 2 additional courses beyond cr. patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year, every 4 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months for 3 years.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * histologically or cytologic confirmed soft tissue sarcoma * measurable disease; for patients having only lesions measuring at least 1 cm to less than 2 cm, must use spiral ct imaging for both pre- and post-treatment tumor assessments * absolute neutrophil count (anc) \>= 1,500/μl * platelets (plts) \>= 100,000/μl * hgb \>= 10.0 g/dl * direct bilirubin =\< 1.5 x uln (upper limit normal) * ast(sgot) =\< 2.5 x uln or =\< 5 x uln\* if liver metastases are present * alt(sgpt) =\< 2.5 x uln or =\< 5 x uln\* if liver metastases are present * creatinine =\ = 50 ml/min/1.73 m\^2 * baseline glucose levels * fasting serum cholesterol =\< 350 mg/dl (9.0 mmol/l) * fasting triglycerides =\< 400 mg/dl (4.56 mmol/l) * ecog performance status (ps) 0, 1 or 2 * life expectancy \>= 12 weeks * capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study, and able to provide valid informed consent exclusion criteria: * any of the following as this regimen may be harmful to a developing fetus or nursing child: * pregnant women * breast-feeding women * men or women of childbearing potential or their sexual partners who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception ( diaphragm, birth control pills, injections, intrauterine device \[iud\], surgical sterilization, subcutaneous implants, or abstinence, etc.) * any of the following: * nitrosoureas or mitomycin =\< 6 weeks prior to study entry * other chemotherapy =\< 4 weeks prior to study entry * radiotherapy =\< 4 weeks prior to study entry * concurrent use of any other investigation agent * adverse events due to agents administered =\< 4 weeks prior to study entry * history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to cci-779 * uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * known hiv-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy * prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease * exceptions: * patients with gist who fail gleevec are eligible * patients who have had adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy are also eligible * known brain metastases * exception: patients with treated brain metastatic disease with stable symptoms after treatment for \>= 1 month