Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Solid Tumors

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) administered with docetaxel in patients with progressive metastatic prostate cancer or other progressive metastatic or unresectable solid tumors. II. Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG). Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Group 1: Patients receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour and 17-AAG IV over 1-2 hours on day 1. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Group 2: Patients receive docetaxel IV over 30 minutes and 17-AAG as in group 1. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients per group receive escalating doses of 17-AAG until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Up to 20 additional patients (10 per group) are treated at the MTD. Patients are followed every 2-3 months.