BMS-247550 in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancers

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor or lymphoma for which no other potentially curative therapeutic option exists or demonstrates increased survival (considering tumor type, stage, and number of prior regimens)

No symptomatic brain metastases requiring dexamethasone

No progression or cerebral edema on CT scan or MRI within the past 4 weeks

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

18 and over

Performance status:

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

At least 12 weeks

Hematopoietic:

Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL
Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal:

Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

No atrial or ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication
No ischemic event within the past 6 months

Other:

No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
No other serious medical illness or active infection that would preclude study participation
No dementia, psychiatric illness, or other alteration in mental status that would preclude study compliance
No other active malignancy except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No history of allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel or other Cremophor EL-containing compound
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study completion

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

No concurrent immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered
No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer hormonal therapy and recovered
No concurrent hormonal therapy except LHRH agonists for non-castrated prostate cancer, contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (e.g., conjugated estrogens), or megestrol as an appetite stimulant

Radiotherapy:

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to limited sites allowed

Surgery:

At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered

Other:

At least 30 days since prior investigational agents and recovered
No other concurrent experimental medications
No concurrent antiretroviral (HAART) therapy for HIV-positive patients