DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

  • Cytologically or histologically proven unresectable solid tumor for which no curative treatment options exist (group I - dose-escalation phase)

  • Multiple myeloma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia requiring treatment (group II - maximum tolerated dose phase)

    • Failed ≥ 1 prior regimen
    • Non-secretory myeloma allowed
• No known standard therapy that is potentially curative or definitely capable of extending life expectancy exists
• Tumor amenable to serial sampling (group II)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-2
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 (75,000/mm^3 for patients with multiple myeloma [group II])
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver involvement)
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN (2.5 times ULN for patients with multiple myeloma [group II])
• Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks
• No uncontrolled infection
• No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease
• No uncontrolled hypertension, labile hypertension, or history of poor compliance with antihypertensive medication
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No sensory peripheral neuropathy of any etiology > grade 1 or neuropathic pain of any etiology
• No active HIV infection requiring therapy
• No inability to swallow that would preclude use of oral medications
• No evidence of bleeding diathesis
• Medically capable and willing to provide biologic specimens as required (mandatory for patients in group II)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• Prior bortezomib allowed
• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin C or nitrosoureas) and recovered
• More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy or biologic therapy
• More than 2 weeks since prior steroid therapy (group II only)
• No prior anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy
• More than 4 weeks since prior full-field radiotherapy (2 weeks for limited-field radiotherapy)
• No prior radiation to > 25% of bone marrow

• More than 4 weeks since major surgery (e.g., laparotomy) (2 weeks for minor surgery)

  • Insertion of a vascular access device is not considered major or minor surgery
• No concurrent chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, or any ancillary other therapy considered investigational
• No concurrent prophylactic colony-stimulating factors

• No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation

  • Concurrent prophylactic anticoagulation (i.e., low-dose warfarin) of venous or arterial access devices allowed provided requirements for PT, INR, or PTT are met
• No concurrent cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital), rifampin, or Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort)
• No concurrent participation in any other study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, or gene therapy), either for symptom control, or therapeutic intent