Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven locally advanced or metastatic solid tumor that is refractory
to standard therapy or for which no standard therapy exists

- Eligible for treatment at the maximum tolerated dose only if disease accessible for
tissue biopsy by Tru-Cut, CT guidance, or endoscopy

- Pleural effusions or abdominal ascites do not constitute adequate tissue for
biopsy

- No known CNS metastasis or primary CNS tumor

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 3,500/mm^3

- Total neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

- SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

- No cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within the
past 6 months

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing (during and for at least 2 months after study)

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 2 months
after study

- No concurrent serious or uncontrolled infection

- HIV negative

- No other medical condition that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and
recovered

- Prior irinotecan allowed

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- Recovered from prior therapy

- No other concurrent investigational medication

- No concurrent vitamins (except a single multivitamin tablet), antioxidants, or herbal
preparations or supplements

- No concurrent subcutaneous heparin or heparinoids