Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically proven metastatic solid tumors that are refractory to standard therapies or for which no potentially effective therapy exists No leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma Measurable or evaluable disease No pleural or peritoneal effusions No symptomatic brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin normal AST and ALT no greater than 3 times normal (no greater than 5 times normal if liver involvement present) Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 45 mL/min Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study No active infection No concurrent serious systemic disorders Body surface area no greater than 3.0 m2

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No prior LY231514 or irinotecan No greater than 6 prior courses of a regimen containing an alkylating agent (except low dose cisplatin) No greater than 4 prior courses of a carboplatin-containing regimen No prior mitomycin No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormone therapy (except contraceptives or corticosteroids) Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of the bone marrow No prior radiotherapy to the whole pelvis Recovered from any prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 4 weeks since any prior investigational agents No concurrent experimental medications No aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents for 2 days prior, the day of, and 2 days after the dose of LY231514 (5 days prior to LY231514 for long acting agents such as piroxicam)