BMS-247550 in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancers

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor or lymphoma for which no other potentially curative therapeutic option exists or demonstrates increased survival (considering tumor type, stage, and number of prior regimens)
• No symptomatic brain metastases requiring dexamethasone
• * No progression or cerebral edema on CT scan or MRI within the past 4 weeks
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 12 weeks
• Hematopoietic:
• Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No atrial or ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication
• No ischemic event within the past 6 months
• Other:
• No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
• No other serious medical illness or active infection that would preclude study participation
• No dementia, psychiatric illness, or other alteration in mental status that would preclude study compliance
• No other active malignancy except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No history of allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel or other Cremophor EL-containing compound
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study completion
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer hormonal therapy and recovered
• No concurrent hormonal therapy except LHRH agonists for non-castrated prostate cancer, contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (e.g., conjugated estrogens), or megestrol as an appetite stimulant
• Radiotherapy:
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to limited sites allowed
• Surgery:
• At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered
• Other:
• At least 30 days since prior investigational agents and recovered
• No other concurrent experimental medications
• No concurrent antiretroviral (HAART) therapy for HIV-positive patients