Talotrexin in Treating Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of malignant solid tumor

  • Metastatic or inoperable disease
• No known curative or survival-prolonging palliative therapy exists OR failed these prior therapies
• No leukemia
• No primary CNS tumor

• No third-space fluid collection (i.e., pleural effusion, ascites)

  • Clinically insignificant small pleural or peritoneal effusions identified by CT scan, MRI, or other diagnostic test allowed

• No active* brain metastases, including the following:

  • Evidence of cerebral edema by CT scan or MRI
  • Progression since prior imaging study
  • Requirement for steroids
  • Clinical symptoms of/from brain metastases NOTE: *Treated and/or stable brain metastasis allowed provided patient is asymptomatic

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• RBC folate ≥ lower limit of normal

Hepatic

• Bilirubin normal
• SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal

Renal

• Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other uncontrolled serious medical or psychiatric illness

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No prior bone marrow transplantation

Chemotherapy

• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)

Endocrine therapy

• See Disease Characteristics

Radiotherapy

• More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy
• No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

• At least 3 weeks since prior surgery

Other

• Recovered from prior therapy
• More than 3 weeks since prior antifolate therapy