Exatecan Mesylate in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors and Kidney Dysfunction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced solid tumor refractory to standard therapy or for which no standard therapy exists * Renal function as defined by the following parameters: * Normal (creatinine clearance (CrCl) greater than 80 mL/min) * Mild dysfunction (CrCl 50-80 mL/min) * Moderate dysfunction (CrCl 30-50 mL/min) * Severe dysfunction (CrCl less than 30 mL/min) * End-stage renal disease (requiring dialysis) * No symptomatic or active brain metastases (e.g., edema or progression on CT scan or MRI) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * AST or ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal * Albumin at least 2.8 g/dL Renal * See Disease Characteristics Cardiovascular * No active congestive heart failure * No uncontrolled angina * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other * No concurrent serious infection * No other life-threatening illness * No overt psychosis or mental disability or other incompetency that would preclude informed consent * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent anticancer biologic therapy Chemotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea) and recovered * No prior exatecan mesylate * No other concurrent anticancer chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy * Concurrent megestrol for appetite stimulation allowed Radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered * No concurrent anticancer surgery Other * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs including analgesics or antiemetics * At least 1 week since prior grapefruit juice * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No other investigational drugs during and for 4 weeks after study * No concurrent grapefruit juice * No other concurrent anticancer cytotoxic therapy * Concurrent chronic hemodialysis or ambulatory peritoneal dialysis allowed