Inhaled Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors Affecting the Lungs

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven advanced cancer not curable by standard chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery * Clinical evidence of primary lung or tracheal cancer OR * Metastatic cancer to the lung * Extrathoracic metastases eligible if following criteria are met: * Sites are stable * Pulmonary sites are primary life-threatening sites * Evidence that study treatment may benefit the patient * Measurable or evaluable disease * No germ cell tumor, leukemia, or lymphoma involving the lungs that is treatable with systemic agents * No complete atelectasis due to high-grade airway obstruction 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 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.0 mg/dL * AST and ALT less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: * LVEF at least 40% by MUGA scan or echocardiogram * No unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or symptomatic arrhythmias Pulmonary: * DLCO at least 50% predicted * FVC and FEV1 at least 50% predicted * Resting oxygen saturation at least 90% * Exercise oxygen saturation at least 85% * Oxygen consumption greater than 50% predicted * No prior radiation pneumonitis * No asthma * No radiation-induced pulmonary damage Other: * No hypersensitivity to doxorubicin * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study * HIV negative * No congenital problems (e.g., cleft palate) or other anomalies that prevent tight fit of a mouthseal PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy and recovered * No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin) Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * Prior doxorubicin allowed if LVEF at least 40% by MUGA scan or echocardiogram * No prior mitomycin, bleomycin, or nitrosoureas * No other concurrent systemic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * At least 12 months since prior radiotherapy to chest * No prior radiotherapy to more than 20% of total lung volume * Prior chest wall or primary breast radiotherapy allowed * Prior radioactive iodine allowed * No concurrent thoracic radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior total pneumonectomy Other: * No other concurrent experimental drug