Penclomedine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically documented solid tumor that is refractory to conventional therapy or for which no conventional treatment exists No primary or secondary brain tumor No CNS disease or treatment-related CNS dysfunction No bone metastases involving 4 or more sites

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500 Platelet count greater than 100,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: No active infection No history of egg protein allergy No prior gastric or small intestine resection or clinical evidence of malabsorption No history of medical, neurologic, or psychiatric disorder No concomitant medical problem unrelated to the malignancy that precludes study compliance or increases treatment risk No pregnant women Adequate contraception required of fertile patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No more than 4 courses of combination chemotherapy that included an alkylating agent, cisplatin, or carboplatin (applies once grade 1 or worse myelosuppression is reported on this study) No prior mitomycin or nitrosoureas At least 28 days since chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to wide ports involving pelvis or 20% of bone marrow At least 28 days since large-field radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: At least 14 days since major surgery Other: No bone marrow transplantation