DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed gastric or gastroesophageal junction carcinoma (gastric carcinoma closed to accrual as of 02/04)
• Must have received 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for gastric carcinoma (gastric carcinoma closed to accrual as of 02/04)

• Bidimensionally measurable disease

  • At least 1 lesion that is at least 10 mm by CT scan
• No CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3*
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3*
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.5 g/dL* NOTE: *Independent of growth factor or transfusion support

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST and ALT ≤ 3 times ULN
• INR ≤ 1.5 (unless receiving anticoagulants)
• Albumin > 2.5 g/dL

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• LVEF ≥ 50%
• No acute anginal symptoms

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation
• Able to comply with study procedures and follow-up
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No severe infection
• No other concurrent severe medical condition or comorbidity that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• More than 7 days since prior growth factors or blood transfusions
• No concurrent therapeutic biological response modifier therapy
• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

• No concurrent radiotherapy (including palliative radiotherapy)

Surgery

• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery

Other

• More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents
• No other concurrent investigational anticancer therapy