DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced solid tumors meeting one of the following criteria:

  • No known standard curative therapy available
  • Considered ineligible for standard therapy due to performance status
  • Disease progression observed after standard therapy

• Measurable or evaluable disease

  • Disease in previously irradiated sites is considered measurable if there is clear disease progression after radiotherapy

• Patients with asymptomatic previously treated (e.g., surgical resection or radiotherapy) brain metastasis are eligible provided they are neurologically stable and have been off steroids for at least 2 weeks

  • No symptomatic brain metastasis still requiring steroids or anticonvulsants

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Zubrod performance status 0-2
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min
• Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5mg/dL
• ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal
• Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Cardiac ejection fraction normal by 2-D ECHO or MUGA scan
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• Able to take and retain oral medication
• No pre-existing neuropathy ≥ grade 2

• No uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude study compliance
• No history of other diseases, metabolic dysfunction, or physical examination or clinical laboratory finding that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, affects the interpretation of the results of the study, or renders the patient at high-risk for treatment complications
• No gastrointestinal tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication, requires IV alimentation, or prior surgical procedures affecting absorption
• No severe (NCI CTC Grade 3- 4) history of hypersensitivity reaction to a drug formulated in Cremophor®EL (polyoxyethylated castor oil)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics

• Medications classified as CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors must meet the following criteria:

  • At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent:

    • Antibiotics (i.e., clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin)
    • HIV antiretrovirals (i.e., delavirdine) or protease inhibitors (i.e., ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, lopinavir)
    • Antifungals (i.e., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole [doses up to 150 mg/day allowed])
    • Antidepressants (i.e., nefazodone, fluvoxamine)
    • Calcium channel blockers (i.e., verapamil, diltiazem)

    • Gastrointestinal (i.e., cimetidine, aprepitant)

      • Gastric pH modifiers (i.e., H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) allowed
    • Miscellaneous (i.e., grapefruit or its juice, bitter orange, all herbal or alternative medications)

  • At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent:

    • Glucocorticoids (i.e., dexamethasone or dexamethasone-equivalent dose > 1.5 mg/day) with the exception of the steroid pre-medication required for ixabepilone administration
    • Anticonvulsants (i.e., phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital)
    • HIV antiretrovirals (i.e., efavirenz, nevirapine)
    • Antibiotics (i.e., rifampin [rifampicin], rifabutin, rifapentine)
    • Miscellaneous (i.e., St. Johns wort, modafinil)
  • At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and all side effects (except alopecia) resolved to grade 1 or less
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiation to > 30% of bone marrow-containing areas (i.e., pelvis, lumbar spine)
• At least 4 weeks since prior trastuzumab (Herceptin®)
• No prior lapatinib, ixabepilone, or any other EGFR-TKI targeted agent
• No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients
• Concurrent oral anticoagulants (coumadin, warfarin) allowed provided INR is appropriately monitored