Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Solid Tumors

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the maximum tolerated dose, clinical toxicity, and recommended phase II dose of fenretinide when combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with refractory solid tumors. * Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients. * Determine the therapeutic response to this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation, multicenter study of fenretinide. Patients receive oral fenretinide twice daily on days 1-7 and paclitaxel IV over 3 hours followed by cisplatin IV over 2 hours on day 2. On day 8 of course 1, patients also receive fenretinide once in the morning. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for a maximum of 8 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who achieve complete response receive 2 additional courses. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of fenretinide until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-24 patients will be accrued for this study within 1 year.