Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Pathologically proven advanced cancer for which no curative therapy exists
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present)
• Renal:
• Creatinine normal
• Other:
• Unassisted oral or enteral intake sufficient to maintain a reasonable state of nutrition
• No concurrent medical condition that is likely to interfere with study participation
• No active visual disturbances that require intervention beyond corrective lenses
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No prior bone marrow transplantation
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• No prior high dose chemotherapy with bone marrow or stem cell rescue
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• No concurrent hormone therapy (except megestrol acetate)
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to 25% or more of bone marrow
• No concurrent radiotherapy (except palliative radiotherapy within the first 28 days of the study)
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• At least 30 days since prior investigational therapy
• No concurrent investigational therapy