Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors That Have Not Responded to Treatment and Liver Dysfunction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor

  * Any histology allowed
* Refractory to standard therapy OR no standard therapy exists

  * Previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer allowed, provided abnormal liver function is present, defined as moderate (group 3) or severe (group 4)
* Measurable disease not required

  * Present measurable disease requires baseline measurements within 4 weeks of study entry
* Patients with acute hepatitis from viral or drug etiologies should recover to a stable baseline prior to study therapy
* History of brain metastasis allowed, provided the following criteria are met:

  * Metastasis has been controlled by radiotherapy or surgery
  * Patient is not currently on corticosteroids
  * Neurologic status is stable

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
* Life expectancy ≥ 2 months
* ANC = 1,500/mm³
* Platelet count = 100,000/mm³
* Hemoglobin = 10 g/dL (transfusion to this level allowed)
* Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/ min
* Patients with EKG evidence of first- or second-degree AV block or left or right bundle branch block are ineligible for the lidocaine bolus, but may otherwise be treated on this protocol
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No concurrent illness (e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary, or central nervous system) that is poorly controlled or of such severity that the investigator deems unwise to enter the patient on protocol
* Must have ability to comply with study treatment and required tests
* Obstructive jaundice requires a drainage procedure prior to study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics
* Recovered from prior therapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea therapy)
* No prior radiotherapy to \> 30% of the bone marrow or more than standard adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer