Gossypol, Paclitaxel, and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors That Are Metastatic or Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. The primary end point will be to determine the maximum tolerated dose of AT-101 with paclitaxel and carboplatin. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the toxicities associated with the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and AT-101. II. To evaluate the human pharmacokinetic disposition of AT-101 in the context of escalating doses. III. To describe the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel when given concurrently with AT-101. IV. To evaluate for evidence of activity for the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin and AT-101. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of R-(-)-gossypol acetic acid. Patients receive oral R-(-)-gossypol acetic acid twice daily on days 1-3. Patients also receive paclitaxel IV over 3 hours and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Blood samples are collected periodically for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed for 4 weeks.