RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of MS 209 plus docetaxel in treating patients who have advanced solid tumors.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of oral MS-209 when given with docetaxel IV in patients with advanced solid malignant tumors. II. Assess the toxicity of this regimen in these patients.

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation, multicenter study of MS-209. Patients receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour on day 1 of a 3 week course. On day 1 of the 2nd course, patients receive MS-209 orally followed by docetaxel IV over 1 hour. Treatment is repeated every 3 weeks for 4-7 courses (including course with docetaxel alone). Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of MS-209 until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which 2 of 3 or 3 of 6 patients experience dose limiting toxicities. Patients are followed every 6 weeks.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 3-30 patients will be accrued for this study.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above

Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

• Histologically confirmed advanced malignant solid tumor; No gastric cancer
• No brain involvement or leptomeningeal disease

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

• Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas); No prior docetaxel; No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy
• Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (6 weeks if extensive)
• Surgery: Not specified
• Other: No other concurrent anticancer drugs; No other concurrent investigational therapies; No H2-blockers, proton pump inhibitors, sucralfate or any other drug that would impair absorption; No concurrent drugs exhibiting liver, kidney, heart or lung toxicity; No concurrent MDR-modulating drugs (e.g., calcium antagonists, immunosuppressives); No concurrent antifungals (ketoconazole, fluconazole) or antibiotics (clarithromycin, erthromycin) that interfere with MS-209 metabolism

--Patient Characteristics--

• Age: 18 and over
• Performance status: ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy: At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3; Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3; Hemoglobin at least 11.2 g/dL
• Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN); AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN; Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular: Normal cardiac function; Left ventricular ejection fraction normal
• Other: No digestive disease that hampers absorption; No unstable systemic disease or uncontrolled infection that precludes study; No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that precludes compliance; Not pregnant or nursing; Fertile patients must use effective contraception