Amifostine in Treating Peripheral Neuropathy Caused by Paclitaxel in Patients With Solid Tumors

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the percentage of patients with solid tumors who have persistent paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy who benefit, defined as a decrease of at least 20% on their FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CANCER THERAPY/ GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY GROUP NEUROTOXICITY (FACT/GOG-Ntx) FACT-GOG-NTX score, from treatment with subcutaneous amifostine. * Determine whether there is sufficient evidence of reversal activity of this drug in these patients to justify a phase III study. Secondary * Compare the acute toxic effects of this drug administered subcutaneously in these patients vs IV administrations of this drug historically and/or during the GOG-0192 study. * Determine the capability of the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test to provide objective, quantitative evidence for improvement in patients who have subjective improvement as self-reported on the FACT-GOG-NTX scale. * Determine whether any benefit in patients treated with this drug is transient or lasts at least 8 weeks. OUTLINE: This is an open-label, multicenter study. Patients receive amifostine subcutaneously three times weekly for 4 weeks in the absence of symptom progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients achieving a complete or partial response receive an additional 4 weeks of therapy. Neuropathy symptoms are assessed using the FACT-GOG-NTX questionnaire administered at baseline, weekly during therapy, and at 12 weeks and the Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test administered at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Patients are followed at 12 weeks. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued for this study within 10-20 months.