Motexafin Gadolinium and Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the maximum tolerated dose of motexafin gadolinium and doxorubicin in patients with advanced malignancies. * Determine the dose-limiting toxicity of this regimen in these patients. * Determine the safety and tolerability of this regimen in these patients. * Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients. * Evaluate the tumor response in patients treated with this regimen. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation, multicenter study. Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 groups. Group A: * Course 1: Patients receive motexafin gadolinium IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, 9, and 10 and doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes on day 8. * Course 2: 28 days after the beginning of course 1, patients receive doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes. * Courses 3-6: Beginning 21 days after course 2, patients receive doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes on day 1 and motexafin gadolinium IV over 30 minutes on days 1-3. Treatment repeats every 21 days. Group B: * Course 1: Patients receive motexafin gadolinium IV over 30 minutes on day 1 and doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes on day 8. * Course 2: 28 days after the beginning of course 1, patients receive doxorubicin IV over 15 minutes on day 1 and motexafin gadolinium IV over 30 minutes on days 1-3. * Courses 3-6: Beginning 21 days after course 2, patients receive doxorubicin and motexafin gadolinium as in group A. Treatment in both groups continues for up to 6 courses in the absence of disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or a cumulative doxorubicin dose of 450 mg/m\^2. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of doxorubicin and motexafin gadolinium until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the highest dose at which no more than 0 of 3 or 1 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed at 1 and 2 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-48 patients will be accrued for this study.