Arsenic Trioxide in Treating Men With Germ Cell Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed testicular or extragonadal germ cell cancer * Refractory disease, defined by at least 1 of the following criteria: * Disease progression during or within 4 weeks of cisplatin-containing regimen * Progression is defined as the appearance of new or progression of known locally advanced or metastatic disease or a rise in tumor markers (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG) or alpha fetoprotein (AFP)) by at least 50% relative to the nadir * When the only evidence of germ cell progression or recurrence before study entry is the appearance of a new lesion in the absence of tumor marker elevation, a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis * Disease recurrence after at least 2 chemotherapy regimens, one of which includes high-dose therapy (chemotherapy with stem cell support) * Disease recurrence after at least 2 chemotherapy regimens and not eligible for high-dose therapy * At least 1 of the following: * Unidimensionally measurable disease * Soft tissue, irradiated within the past 2 months, is not considered measurable * Elevated beta-HCG (more than 20 mIU/mL) * AFP greater than 2 times upper limit of normal PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 16 and over Sex: * Male Performance status: * Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin less than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT less than 5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase less than 5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 times ULN OR * Creatinine clearance at least 40 mL/min * Potassium normal * Magnesium normal * No renal dialysis Cardiovascular: * No prior torsades de pointes-type ventricular arrhythmia * No prolonged QT interval (greater than 450 msec) on ECG in presence of normal potassium and magnesium Other: * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active serious infection not controlled by antibiotics * No known hypersensitivity to arsenic * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or stage I or II disease in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 28 days since prior cytotoxic agents Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: * Not specified Other: * More than 28 days since prior experimental agents * No concurrent or planned drugs known to prolong the QT interval