BMS-247550 Plus Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Solid Tumors

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or unresectable solid tumor for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective * Measurable or evaluable disease * Lesion accessible for core or excisional biopsy if being treated at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) * No biliary tract dilation if radiologically guided biopsy of the liver is planned * No requirement for core biopsy of lung lesion that is not pleural based * No requirement for laparotomy or thoracotomy solely for biopsy * No medical condition that would preclude biopsy * No known brain metastases * Performance status - ECOG 0-2 * Performance status - ECOG 0-1 if being treated at the MTD * More than 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * No prior bleeding disorder or unexplained bleeding if being treated at the MTD * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST/ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) * PT/PTT normal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation * No ongoing or active infection * No grade 2 or greater neuropathy (sensory or motor) * No prior severe allergic reaction attributable to compounds containing Cremophor EL or platinum agents * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No medical condition that would preclude study if being treated at the MTD * At least 4 week since prior immunotherapy * At least 24 hours since prior growth factors * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No more than 3 prior chemotherapy regimens * No prior epothilone agents * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignancy * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * At least 4 weeks since prior wide-field radiotherapy involving 30% or more of bone marrow * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * No prior or concurrent St. John's Wort * No concurrent combination anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational agents * No concurrent heparin or other anticoagulants if being treated at the MTD * No concurrent inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3AP (CYP3A4)