Bortezomib and Cisplatin as First-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed pleural malignant mesothelioma, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Recurrent disease after radical surgery * Disease not considered suitable for radical treatment * Measurable or evaluable disease * No clinical evidence of brain or leptomeningeal metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * WHO performance status 0-1 * Life expectancy \> 12 weeks * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min OR \> 50 mL/min * ALT and AST \< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (\< 5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times ULN * No concurrent secondary malignancy except carcinoma in situ of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell skin cancer * No other malignancy treated within the past 5 years * Melanoma, breast cancer, or hypernephroma treated within the past 5 years and without recurrence are allowed * No uncontrolled or severe cardiovascular disease, including any of the following: * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure * Uncontrolled angina * Clinically significant pericardial disease or cardiac amyloidosis * No infiltrative pulmonary or pericardial disease * No preexisting peripheral neuropathy * No known or suspected allergy or intolerance to boron, mannitol, or heparin, if an indwelling catheter is used * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude protocol compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior systemic chemotherapy for mesothelioma * No other concurrent antineoplastic agents except medications that may have antineoplastic activity but are taken for other reasons (e.g., megestrol acetate, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, or bisphosphonates) * No other concurrent experimental agents