DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor

• Advanced disease, meeting both of the following criteria:

  • Metastatic or unresectable disease
  • Standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective
• No known active brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Life expectancy > 3 months
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Bilirubin normal
• WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
• AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal

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

  • Ongoing or active infection
  • Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • Unstable angina pectoris
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit study compliance
• No preexisting neuropathy ≥ grade 2
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Recovered from prior therapy
• No prior chemotherapy within the past 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C)
• No prior targeted therapy within the past 4 weeks
• No prior immunotherapy within the past 4 weeks
• No prior radiotherapy within the past 4 weeks
• No prior cumulative cisplatin dose > 300 mg/m²
• No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for advanced solid tumors

• No other concurrent investigational agents

  • Bisphosphonate therapy (e.g., pamidronate or zolendronate) is not considered investigational therapy
• No concurrent antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
• No other concurrent anticancer agents or therapies