Irinotecan Followed by Fluorouracil in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically proven recurrent or metastatic solid tumor that is not amenable to curative surgery, radiotherapy, or conventional chemotherapy of proven value
* Must have disease that can be safely and readily biopsied under local anesthesia (including, but not limited to, subcutaneous metastases, superficial lymph node metastases, or ascites)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

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

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* AST less than 2 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times ULN
* Lactic dehydrogenase less than 2 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

* HIV negative
* No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
* No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* Not specified

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
* No prior irinotecan

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy except small-port radiotherapy for local control
* No concurrent radiotherapy except small-port radiotherapy for local disease control (e.g., pain relief or impending fracture)

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

* No concurrent anticoagulants except warfarin or subcutaneous heparin