Glutamine in Preventing Myalgia and/or Arthralgia in Patients Who Are Receiving Paclitaxel For Cancer

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare the efficacy of glutamine supplementation vs placebo, in terms of prevention of paclitaxel-induced myalgia and/or arthralgia, in patients with cancer. Secondary * Compare the attenuation of myalgia and/or arthralgia in patients who experience myalgia and/or arthralgia treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover, pilot study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. * Arm I: Beginning on day 2 of course 1 of paclitaxel administration, patients receive oral glutamine three times daily for 4 days. * Arm II: Beginning on day 2 of course 1 of paclitaxel administration, patients receive oral placebo three times daily for 4 days. Both arms crossover during course 2. In both arms, treatment continues in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed for 7-10 days. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 40 patients will be accrued for this study.