Phase II Clinical Trial of Rosiglitazone, a Full-Agonist Ligand for the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPAR), as Differentiation Therapy for Patients With Liposarcoma

Study start date: October 1, 1999

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven liposarcoma that is incurable with standard multimodality approaches (e.g., surgery and/or radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) Well differentiated OR Dedifferentiated OR Myxoid/round cell OR Pleomorphic Measurable disease No clinically unstable brain metastases No progression on prior troglitazone therapy for liposarcoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 90,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT less than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.4 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No poorly controlled atrial arrhythmias, symptomatic angina pectoris, or myocardial infarction within the past 4 months No symptomatic congestive heart failure, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft within the past 3 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception Oral contraceptives are not considered effective contraception No active retroviral disease No condition that would preclude informed consent PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior chemotherapy allowed and recovered No concurrent cytotoxic therapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Prior radiotherapy allowed and recovered At least 6 months since prior radiotherapy to the sole site of measurable disease Concurrent localized radiotherapy to a single site of disease allowed if there are other sites of measurable disease Surgery: Not specified