Azacitidine Plus Phenylbutyrate in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors That Have Not Responded to Previous Treatment

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed locally advanced or metastatic malignant solid tumor not amenable to curative therapy
• * Lymphoma allowed
• Progressive disease
• Evaluable disease
• No CNS metastases by CT scan or MRI
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL (may be achieved by transfusion)
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL (unless due to hemolysis or Gilbert's syndrome)
• SGOT and SGPT less than 2 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Other:
• No active infection
• HIV negative
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception for 2 weeks before, during, and 3 months after study participation
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic disease and recovered
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Surgery:
• Not specified