OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the clinical activity of BMS-247550 in terms of response rate in patients with recurrent metastatic gastric cancer previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine or platinum regimen. II. Determine the safety of this drug in this patient population. III. Determine the duration of response, time to progression, and survival of patients treated with this drug.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients receive BMS-247550 IV over 1 hour on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 18 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a complete response (CR) receive up to 4 additional courses after CR. Patients are followed every 3 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 21-58 patients will be accrued for this study within 12 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent metastatic adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction No squamous cell or sarcomatous elements in tumor Previously treated with 1 prior fluoropyrimidine and/or platinum based chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease OR Recurrent disease within 6 months of completing adjuvant fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy Bidimensionally measurable disease No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 125,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular: No unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure within the past 6 months Other: No grade 2 or greater neuropathy (motor or sensory) No other malignancy within the past 2 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No serious concurrent infection No other medical illness that would preclude study No psychiatric disorder or other condition that would preclude study No known hypersensitivity to Cremophor EL Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy allowed No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease No prior taxane therapy No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy except hormone replacement therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to major bone marrow-containing areas (pelvis, lumbar spine) or to only site of measurable disease No concurrent therapeutic radiotherapy Surgery: At least 1 week since prior minor surgery and recovered At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other: No other concurrent experimental anticancer medications