DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma

  • Unresectable disease
• Must have measurable or nonmeasurable disease by RECIST or modified RECIST criteria

• Must have received prior systemically administered* platinum-based chemotherapy and meets the following criteria:

  • No more than 2 prior systemic therapeutic regimens allowed (including biologics, targeted, and immunotherapies)
  • At least 1 regimen must have been platinum-based
  • Neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant systemic therapy is not counted as a prior regimen, assuming = 12 weeks have elapsed between the end of neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy and development of progressive disease NOTE: *Pleural space washing with cisplatin does not constitute systemic administration
• No known CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Zubrod performance status 0-1
• ANC = 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count = 100,000/mm³
• Serum bilirubin normal
• AST or ALT = 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Serum creatinine = 1.5 times ULN OR creatinine clearance = 50 mL/min
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• No evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy

  • Previous pulmonary embolism allowed provided the patient is on therapeutic low molecular weight heparin injections or warfarin AND no evidence of bleeding

    • Patients on therapueutic warfarin must have an INR of < 5 within 28 days prior to registration
• No pathologic condition other than mesothelioma that carries a high risk of bleeding
• No known HIV positivity
• No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral or enteral medication via a feeding tube or a requirement for IV alimentation, or active peptic ulcer disease

• No other prior malignancy allowed except for any of the following:

  • Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
  • In situ cervical cancer
  • Adequately treated stage I or II cancer from which the patient is currently in complete remission
  • Any other cancer from which patient has been disease-free for 5 years

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from all prior therapy
• At least 28 days since prior systemic therapy (42 days for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
• At least 28 days since prior thoracic or other major surgery (e.g., pleurectomy or pleurodesis) and no anticipated need for major surgical procedures during study
• At least 14 days since prior radiotherapy
• No prior surgical procedure affecting absorption

• No prior chronic, systemic corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive agent, except corticosteroids equivalent to prednisone = 20 mg daily

  • Must have been on a stable dosage regimen for = 4 weeks
  • Topical and inhaled corticosteroids allowed
• No prior mTOR inhibitor therapy (i.e., rapamycin, everolimus, or temsirolimus)
• No concurrent immunization with attenuated live vaccines
• No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No other concurrent anticancer agents