Bryostatin 1 Plus Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically proven advanced cancer (except hematological cancers) for which there is no standard therapy or have failed standard therapies
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• Clinically controlled brain metastases allowed
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• SWOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (elevated bilirubin due to Gilbert's syndrome allowed if direct bilirubin normal)
• AST less than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine normal
• Cardiovascular:
• No active cardiac disease
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No concurrent bacterial infection requiring antibiotics
• No serious concurrent medical condition
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 3 weeks since systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy (including gemcitabine) and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Prior hormonal therapy allowed
• No concurrent hormonal therapy (excluding contraceptives, appetite stimulants, or replacement steroids)
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 3 weeks since radiotherapy to large areas of active bone marrow and recovered
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Recovered from prior major surgery
• Other:
• No concurrent antiviral nucleosides
• At least 1 month since prior investigational agents
• No other concurrent experimental medications