DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven advanced solid tumor that may respond to gemcitabine and cisplatin therapy (e.g., esophagus, head and neck, breast, ovary, bladder, or non-small cell lung cancer) No brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8.8 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.05 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No prior myocardial infarction No severe or unstable angina No history of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease requiring coronary or peripheral artery bypass surgery or concurrent medication No history of arrhythmias, hypertension, or deep venous thrombosis No clinical evidence of severe peripheral vascular disease related to diabetes mellitus Pulmonary: No history of lung embolism Other: No known allergy to Cremophor or Cremophor based drug products No contraindications to systemic gemcitabine or cisplatin therapy No insulin dependent or noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus with clinical evidence of diabetic ulcers No other active malignancies except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 2 weeks since prior epoetin alfa, filgrastim (G-CSF), or sargramostim (GM-CSF) No prior antiangiogenesis therapy No prior SU5416 No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen allowed At least 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea) No prior high dose chemotherapy

At least 6 months since prior gemcitabine and cisplatin and responsive No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy:

Not specified Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior surgery Other: No other concurrent investigational agents