Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven recurrent or metastatic solid tumor that is not amenable to
curative surgery, radiotherapy, or conventional chemotherapy of proven value

- Must have disease that can be safely and readily biopsied under local anesthesia
(including, but not limited to, subcutaneous metastases, superficial lymph node
metastases, or ascites)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

- WBC at least 4,000/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST less than 2 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times ULN

- Lactic dehydrogenase less than 2 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

- HIV negative

- No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection

- No nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude study participation

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

- No prior irinotecan

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy except small-port radiotherapy for local
control

- No concurrent radiotherapy except small-port radiotherapy for local disease control
(e.g., pain relief or impending fracture)

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery

Other:

- No concurrent anticoagulants except warfarin or subcutaneous heparin