DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically proven refractory solid tumor for which paclitaxel and cisplatin are reasonable therapeutic options

• No active CNS disease

  • CNS metastasis allowed if measurable disease outside of the CNS and patient completed and recovered from 1 prior course of CNS radiotherapy (if clinically indicated)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Zubrod 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• ALT and AST no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if related to liver metastases)

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• No severe symptomatic cardiac disease

Other:

• No clinically significant/evident retinopathy
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except localized nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No uncontrolled infection
• No other significant medical or psychiatric condition that would increase risk
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 1 month before, during, and for at least 2 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior paclitaxel, cisplatin, or fenretinide
• At least 4 weeks since other prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to only site of measurable/evaluable disease
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow

Surgery:

• At least 2 weeks since prior therapeutic surgery and recovered

Other:

• At least 4 weeks since prior routine vitamin A of at least 10,000 IU/ day or beta carotene of at least 10 mg/day