Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Mesothelioma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage IV mesothelioma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists * Evidence of disease by CT scan or MRI PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 1 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal * Hepatic function adequate Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * No renal insufficiency * No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled hypertension * No history of congestive heart failure * No cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: * No serious lung disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * Not at high medical or psychiatric risk * No nonmalignant systemic disease * No active infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered * No concurrent immunomodulatory agents Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) and recovered Endocrine therapy: * Concurrent corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy: * At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (or less if multiple tumors) and recovered Surgery: * Recovered from prior surgery Other: * Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed * No prior antineoplastons * No other concurrent antineoplastic agents