SU5416 and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

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