Ecteinascidin 743 in Treating Adults With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed solid tumor that is not amenable to standard therapy No evidence of brain involvement or leptomeningeal disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: ANC at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Transaminases normal (no greater than 2.5 times normal if liver metastases) Alkaline phosphatase normal (no greater than 2.5 times normal if liver or bone metastases) No history of chronic liver disease, e.g., chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Other: No active bacterial infection (e.g., abscess) or with fistulae No grade 2 or worse neurotoxicity No concurrent medical condition that precludes treatment No history of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychotic disorder Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Colony-stimulating factors allowed for specific indications At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy, immunotherapy, or growth factors Chemotherapy: No prior intensive chemotherapy with bone marrow or stem cell support At least 4 weeks since chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or high-dose carboplatin) Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since radiotherapy Concomitant palliative local radiotherapy allowed for existing lesion Surgery: Recovered from prior surgery Other: No concurrent investigational drug Concurrent prophylactic antiemetics allowed after first therapy course