Perifosine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed locally unresectable or metastatic malignancy that is considered incurable
* Refractory to further treatment with known forms of effective therapy
* No clinically active CNS metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin normal
* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Creatinine normal OR
* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after study participation
* Maintaining a reasonable state of nutrition consistent with weight maintenance

  * No recent history of weight loss greater than 10% of current body weight
* No frequent vomiting/poor alimentation
* No other serious concurrent medical illness that would preclude study therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin and nitrosoureas) and recovered
* No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* No concurrent hormonal therapy

  * Patients who have progressive disease while being treated with LHRH agonists, antiestrogens, or antitestosterones for at least 3 months may remain on these agents if in their best interest

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
* No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 21 days since prior major surgery