Chemotherapy Given With Amifostine and Filgrastim in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven recurrent or metastatic malignant disease not amenable to curative surgery, radiotherapy, conventional chemotherapy, or investigational therapy of higher priority Priority given to patients with lung cancer or cancers with tumors easily available for biopsy No CNS disease unless stable post radiation

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 4,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: Systolic blood pressure at least 90 mm Hg No severe heart decompensation No clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia on EKG No inability to tolerate bradycardia Other: No active, uncontrolled infection No nonmalignant systemic disease Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraception required of fertile patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immune stimulating agents Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosourea or mitomycin) and recovered No prior paclitaxel or carboplatin No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormone therapy Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since radiotherapy to major bone marrow bearing areas and recovered Concurrent radiotherapy allowed for vital indications or pain relief Surgery: At least 3 weeks since surgery