Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically or cytologically proven advanced malignancy for which no satisfactory
treatment exists

- Must have tumor accessible by biopsy

- Minimum of 1 baseline biopsy required

- No brain metastases or primary CNS tumor

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- WHO 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

- SGOT and SGPT less than 2 times upper limit of normal unless due to presence of tumor

- Bilirubin normal

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

- No uncompensated coronary artery disease by ECG or physical examination

- No myocardial infarction or severe unstable/angina within the past 6 months

- No severe peripheral vascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus

- No severe deep vein or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

- No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No unstable or severe concurrent medical condition

- No active uncontrolled infection

- No history of allergic reaction to paclitaxel or Cremophor

- No greater than grade 1 peripheral neuropathy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No prior SU5416

Chemotherapy:

- No prior paclitaxel

- Greater than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin)
and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- Greater than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

Other:

- Recovered from any prior investigational agents

- No other concurrent investigational agents