Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors That Have Not Responded to Treatment and Liver Dysfunction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor

Any histology allowed

Refractory to standard therapy OR no standard therapy exists

Previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer allowed, provided abnormal liver function is present, defined as moderate (group 3) or severe (group 4)

Measurable disease not required

Present measurable disease requires baseline measurements within 4 weeks of study entry
Patients with acute hepatitis from viral or drug etiologies should recover to a stable baseline prior to study therapy

History of brain metastasis allowed, provided the following criteria are met:

Metastasis has been controlled by radiotherapy or surgery
Patient is not currently on corticosteroids
Neurologic status is stable

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Karnofsky performance status 70-100%
Life expectancy ≥ 2 months
ANC = 1,500/mm³
Platelet count = 100,000/mm³
Hemoglobin = 10 g/dL (transfusion to this level allowed)
Creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance > 60 mL/ min
Patients with EKG evidence of first- or second-degree AV block or left or right bundle branch block are ineligible for the lidocaine bolus, but may otherwise be treated on this protocol
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No concurrent illness (e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary, or central nervous system) that is poorly controlled or of such severity that the investigator deems unwise to enter the patient on protocol
Must have ability to comply with study treatment and required tests
Obstructive jaundice requires a drainage procedure prior to study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior therapy
At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea therapy)
No prior radiotherapy to > 30% of the bone marrow or more than standard adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer