DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor

  • Locally advanced or metastatic disease for which curative treatment does not exist or is no longer effective

• Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

  • No previously irradiated* measurable lesion unless lesion demonstrates progressive disease OR there are other measurable lesions outside the irradiated* field

  • The following are not considered measurable disease:

    • Bone lesions
    • Leptomeningeal disease
    • Ascites
    • Pleural or pericardial effusion
    • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
    • Abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
    • Cystic lesions NOTE: *External beam radiotherapy
• No uncontrolled brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• At least 6 months

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina pectoris
• No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
• No uncontrolled hypertension

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to flavopiridol
• No ongoing or active infection
• No uncontrolled illness
• No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• More than 12 weeks since prior hepatic arterial chemoembolization
• More than 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy
• No prior flavopiridol

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 12 weeks since prior radioactive metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)
• More than 4 weeks since prior external beam radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Other

• Recovered from all prior tumor-specific therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior investigational tumor-specific therapy
• Concurrent octreotide for control of carcinoid syndrome allowed
• No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent tumor-specific therapy
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy