DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed malignancy for which no known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists
• No hematologic malignancies

• No symptomatic CNS metastases

  • Brain metastases allowed if previously treated (radiotherapy and/or surgery) and patient is stable for at least 8 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

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

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular:

• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other:

• HIV negative
• No peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater
• No uncontrolled infection
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• No prior bone marrow transplantation
• No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 30% of bone marrow
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No concurrent investigational ancillary therapy
• No concurrent enrollment in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, or gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intents