R115777 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed malignant tumors deemed to be incurable or refractory to therapy

  * Advanced, recurrent, or metastatic disease
* Previously treated with at least 1 chemotherapy regimen
* Brain metastases allowed if asymptomatic and controlled (e.g., after prior surgical resection or radiotherapy/radiosurgery) and not on steroids or anticonvulsants

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 3,500/mm3
* Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
* Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3

Hepatic:

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

Renal:

* Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min OR
* Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea)

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* No prior radiotherapy to a field containing a measurable target lesion unless there is evidence of progression or a new lesion is present
* No concurrent radiotherapy to measurable lesions

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered

Other:

* At least 2 weeks since prior proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole)
* Concurrent H2 blockers (e.g., cimetidine or related drugs) or antacids are allowed if there is an interval of at least 2 hours between H2 blocker/antacid intake and R115777 dosing