Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Advanced Cisplatin-Refractory Germ Cell Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed germ cell tumor (GCT) (seminoma or non-seminoma) meeting the following criteria: * Measurable metastatic disease by one of the following methods: * Radiography * If eligibility is defined by measurable disease only, there must be at least 1 site that has not been previously irradiated * Alpha-fetoprotein greater than 15 ng/mL and/or ß-human chorionic gonadotropin greater than 2.2 mIU/L * Previously treated progressive disease meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Not a candidate for potentially curative therapy OR has already received high-dose chemotherapy regimens (prior paclitaxel allowed) * Deemed to be cisplatin-refractory after prior cisplatin-based regimen AND does not want to have potentially curative high-dose therapy (mediastinal or primary refractory GCT) * Prior treatment with 1 cisplatin-based regimen (primary mediastinal nonseminomatous GCT) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 16 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal * Creatinine no greater than 2.2 mg/dL Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * No active infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * No other concurrent experimental or commercial anticancer medications or therapies