Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven advanced solid tumor for which no standard curative therapy
exists

- Must be amenable to biopsy At least 1 site of measurable disease outside of
irradiated field

- No brain metastases by CT or MRI scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Age: 18 and over

- Performance status: ECOG 0-1

- WBC greater than 3,000/mm3

- Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3

- Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3

- Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL

- Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- ALT and AST less than 2.0 times ULN

- PT/PTT less than 1.5 times ULN

- Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No concurrent uncontrolled medical or psychiatric disorder

- No history of bleeding diathesis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No concurrent over the counter biologic agents (e.g., shark cartilage)

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

- No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic or recurrent disease (ECOG
1)

- Prior adjuvant chemotherapy for nonmetastatic disease allowed

- Concurrent stable dose of hormone replacement therapy allowed

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No concurrent radiotherapy

- At least 24 hours since minor surgery (e.g., central venous placement)

- At least 4 weeks since major surgery (e.g., laparotomy, thoracotomy, or craniotomy)

- At least 30 days since other prior investigational agents

- No concurrent herbal remedies

- No concurrent usage of products containing heparin

- No other concurrent anticancer therapy

- Concurrent multivitamins allowed