S-3304 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed solid tumor that failed to respond or relapsed after prior therapy or for which no standard therapy exists
* Biopsy-accessible lesion
* No brain metastasis unless clinically stable and off therapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* More than 6 weeks

Hematopoietic:

* Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Transaminases less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 30 days after study
* Able to tolerate oral medication
* HIV negative
* No AIDS
* No serious underlying gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., recurrent vomiting or inflammatory bowel disease)
* No other serious concurrent illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
* Concurrent stable doses of epoetin alfa are allowed during the second and subsequent courses
* No other concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

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

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy
* Concurrent stable doses of steroids for prostate cancer are allowed during the second and subsequent courses
* No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

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

Surgery:

* No prior significant gastric resection

Other:

* Recovered from prior therapy
* At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational antitumor drugs
* No other concurrent investigational antitumor drugs
* Concurrent stable doses of bisphosphonates, cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are allowed during the second and subsequent study courses