3-AP Plus Cisplatin and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed progressive advanced or metastatic cancer * Failed 1 or more prior standard therapies for disease OR * Unlikely to respond to any currently available therapies * Measurable or evaluable disease * No active CNS metastases * Previously treated CNS metastases allowed if no evidence of new CNS metastases and stable for at least 2 months PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: * More than 3 months Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) * No active bleeding or coagulation disorder (occult blood for gastrointestinal cancer allowed) Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * ALT/AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * Albumin at least 3.0 g/dL * PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No active heart disease * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No symptomatic coronary artery disease, heart block, or uncontrolled congestive heart failure Pulmonary: * No moderate to severe compromise in pulmonary function Other: * No mental deficits and/or psychiatric history that would preclude study * No active infection * No pre-existing severe hearing impairment * No pre-existing grade 2 or greater neuropathy * No prior severe allergic reaction to study drugs * No other life-threatening illness * No chronic toxic effects from prior chemotherapy greater than grade I * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 18 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Concurrent hematopoietic growth factors allowed except if used prophylactically during first course of study therapy Chemotherapy: * More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin) and recovered * More than 6 months since prior combination cisplatin and paclitaxel * Prior cisplatin or paclitaxel as single agents allowed * Prior 3-AP allowed Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * Concurrent radiotherapy to a single site of progressive disease allowed if site requires treatment within the first course of study therapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * More than 3 weeks since any therapy for malignancy and recovered * No other concurrent investigational drugs without consent of sponsor