Oxaliplatin and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven metastatic or unresectable malignancy for which standard therapy does not exist or is no longer effective No greater than 3 prior treatment regimens No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: At least 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal SGOT/SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine normal OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other: No clinically significant neuropathy Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No allergy to platinum compounds or antiemetics No uncontrolled active infection or other illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Disease Characteristics Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior radiotherapy to at least 30% of bone marrow At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer therapy No HIV positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (HAART)