Paclitaxel Plus Chemoprotection With Amifostine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of weekly paclitaxel following amifostine in patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors. II. Assess tumor response rate and survival in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of paclitaxel. Patients receive amifostine IV over 5 minutes or less on day 0, followed by paclitaxel IV over 1 hour once a week for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest. Patients with complete or partial response may receive additional courses of therapy. Cohorts of 3-5 patients each receive increasing doses of paclitaxel. The maximum tolerated dose is defined as the dose level prior to the cohort at which 1 of 3-5 patients experience dose limiting toxicity.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 20 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven recurrent or refractory solid tumors Evaluable disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 4 months Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 g/dL Alkaline phosphatase less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST less than 3 times ULN Renal: Calcium greater than 8 mg/dL Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No active congestive heart failure Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No grade 2 neuropathy No intolerability for hydration

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biologic therapy allowed Chemotherapy: No more than 3 prior failed chemotherapy regimens Prior paclitaxel as a radiosensitizer allowed No prior weekly paclitaxel infusion failure Prior platinum or paclitaxel therapy allowed Endocrine therapy: Prior endocrine therapy allowed Radiotherapy: Prior radiotherapy allowed Surgery: Prior surgery allowed Other: No concurrent dilantin therapy No antihypertensive/diuretics within 24 hours prior to chemotherapy