VNP20009 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors refractory to standard curative or palliative therapy and for which no other conventional therapy exists
* Measurable or evaluable metastatic disease
* No brain metastases unless previously treated and no evidence of recurrence
* No lymphoma or other hematologic malignancy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-1

Life expectancy:

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

* Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hematocrit at least 30% (transfusion allowed)
* No known bleeding disorder

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* ALT and AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN (3 times ULN if liver metastases present)
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times ULN (3 times ULN if liver metastases present)
* PT and PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN
* Hepatitis B surface antigen negative
* No chronic active hepatitis B
* No end-stage liver disease

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
* No urinary tract stones
* No end-stage renal disease

Cardiovascular:

* No known valvular disease
* No known clinically significant atherosclerotic disease, peripheral vascular disease, or arterial aneurysm
* No unstable angina
* No artificial heart valves

Pulmonary:

* No severe oxygen-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

* No artificial implant that cannot be removed (e.g., prosthetic hips or knees or other devices)
* No permanent central venous catheters
* No gallstones
* No active infection
* No documented Salmonella infection
* No tumor fever or fever of unknown origin or cause
* Daily maximum temperature no greater than 38.0 degrees Celsius
* HIV negative
* No documented immunodeficiency
* No other life-threatening illness
* No history of allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to quinolone or cephalosporin antibiotics
* No commercial food handlers, day-care workers, or health-care workers
* No patients unable to avoid close personal contact with severely immunosuppressed individuals (e.g., other patients on myelosuppressive cancer chemotherapy)
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered
* No concurrent steroids that could depress the immune system unless indicated for severe reactions

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* At least 2 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
* No prior splenectomy
* No concurrent palliative surgery

Other:

* Recovered from any other prior anticancer therapies
* No concurrent antibiotics
* No concurrent immunosuppressives or any other medications that could suppress the immune system
* No other concurrent treatment for malignancy
* No requirement for immediate palliative treatment