OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the optimal biologically effective dose of SU6668 in patients with advanced solid tumors.
• Assess the safety and tolerability of this therapy in these patients.
• Determine the pharmacokinetic profile and interpatient pharmacologic variability of this therapy in these patients.
• Determine the extent, frequency, and duration of any tumor responses in patients treated with this therapy.
• Determine a recommended phase II dose of SU6668 for future clinical studies.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients receive oral SU6668 twice daily on days 1-28. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression of 100% or more.

Cohorts of at least 6 patients receive escalating doses of SU6668 until the optimal biologically effective dose (OBD) is determined. Once the OBD is reached, dose escalation continues until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined (if possible). The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 30 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor for which no standard therapy exists
• At least 1 measurable tumor lesion (at least 2 cm) not previously irradiated

• No history of brain metastases

  • Negative brain CT/MRI required for patients with signs and symptoms suspicious for brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• WBC greater than 3,000/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3
• Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL
• No history of bleeding diathesis

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Other:

• No concurrent uncontrolled medical or psychiatric disorders
• No severe iodine allergy
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 30 days since prior over-the-counter, anticancer biologic agents (e.g., shark cartilage)
• No concurrent over-the-counter, anticancer biologic agents (e.g., shark cartilage)

Chemotherapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior cytotoxic or cytostatic agents (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

• Patients with ECOG performance status 0:

  • Any number of prior chemotherapy regimens allowed

• Patients with ECOG performance status 1:

  • No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic or recurrent disease
  • The same drug given on a different schedule does not count as a different regimen
  • Prior adjuvant chemotherapy for nonmetastatic disease or as part of a concurrent chemoradiotherapy protocol is allowed but does not count as part of the 3-regimen limit

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• See Chemotherapy
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy to nonindicator lesions
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• At least 24 hours since prior minor surgery (e.g., central venous catheter placement)
• At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery (e.g., laparotomy, thoracotomy, or craniotomy)

Other:

• At least 30 days since prior anticancer herbal remedies
• At least 30 days since prior investigational agents
• No concurrent anticancer herbal remedies
• No other concurrent investigational or anticancer medication