Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Progressive, Refractory, or Recurrent Stage II or Stage III Testicular or Ovarian Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: Histologically confirmed pure testicular seminoma or ovarian germ cell dysgerminoma Histologic documentation of metastatic/recurrent disease not required Alpha-fetoprotein level must be normal, unless abnormal level is explained by other conditions and approved by the study chair Clinical stage II or III Progressive, refractory, or recurrent disease, meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: Measurable progressive disease Biopsy-proven residual disease Persistently elevated or rising B-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) titers, defined as at least 2 values above the upper limit of normal (ULN) Cisplatin-refractory disease without option of potentially curative therapy, meeting 1 of the following criteria: Failed high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) or autologous bone marrow transplantation (AuBMT) Ineligible for or refused PBSCT or AuBMT Unlikely to achieve long-term benefit from PBSCT or AuBMT Current evidence of metastatic disease Unidimensionally measurable target lesions At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., physical examination for clinically palpable lymph nodes and superficial skin lesions or chest x-ray for clearly defined lung lesions surrounded by aerated lung) At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan or MRI If measurable disease is confined to a solitary lesion, then its neoplastic nature must be confirmed by histology Ultrasound may not be used to measure tumor lesions that are not easily accessible clinically Non-measurable/non-target lesions, with HCG at least ULN, including the following: Bone lesions Pleural or pericardial effusions Ascites CNS lesions Leptomeningeal disease Irradiated lesions, unless progression documented after radiotherapy Performance status - ECOG 0-2 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN No other severe and/or uncontrolled concurrent medical illness Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months after study participation See Disease Characteristics See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy No concurrent hormonal therapy except steroids for adrenal failure, hormones for non-disease-related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes), or intermittent dexamethasone as an antiemetic See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Prior radiotherapy to a symptomatic lesion or one that may produce disability (e.g., unstable femur) allowed No concurrent palliative radiotherapy No concurrent grapefruit juice No concurrent warfarin for therapeutic anticoagulation (concurrent mini-dose warfarin [1 mg orally per day] as prophylaxis allowed)