DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed metastatic or unresectable solid tumors that are not amenable to standard treatment

  • Histological confirmation not required for brain stem tumors
• No known brain metastases
• No leukemia

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 21 and under

Performance status:

• ECOG 0-2 OR
• Lansky 50-100%

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm^3 (except with marrow involvement)
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin 0.2-1.4 mg/dL
• AST/ALT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• Creatinine normal for age OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• Electrolytes, calcium, and phosphorus normal

Cardiovascular:

• No symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, or cardiac arrhythmia

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• No active graft-vs-host disease (GVHD)
• No allergy to platinum compounds or antiemetics
• No uncontrolled concurrent illness or infection
• No evidence of neuropathy
• Blood sugar normal

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 1 week since prior hematopoietic growth factors
• At least 3 months since prior stem cell transplantation and recovered

Chemotherapy:

• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea)

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• At least 6 weeks since prior extensive radiotherapy to significant marrow-containing compartment
• At least 6 months since prior craniospinal radiotherapy; total abdominal, pelvic, or extensive lung radiotherapy; or mantle and Y-port radiotherapy
• At least 6 months since prior total body irradiation

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• No concurrent therapy for GVHD
• No other concurrent anticancer investigational or commercial agents
• No other concurrent anticancer therapy