GW786034 in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor * Refractory to standard therapy or for which no standard therapy exists * No untreated leptomeningeal or brain metastases * Previously treated brain metastases are allowed if currently asymptomatic and patient is off steroids and antiseizure medications for more than 3 months before study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 21 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if tumor involvement) Renal * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than 160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mm Hg on 2 consecutive measurements separated by 1 week) * No arterial or venous thrombosis (including cerebrovascular accident) within the past 3 months * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No unstable angina within the past 3 months * No cardiac angiopathy or stenting within the past 3 months * No cardiac pacemaker Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 21 days after study treatment * Able to swallow and retain oral medication * Good venous access * No prior or concurrent gastrointestinal disease * No prior or concurrent condition known to interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of drugs * No known immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction or idiosyncrasy to drugs chemically related to study drug * No other unstable, pre-existing major medical condition * No orthopedic pins or rods or other embedded metal that would preclude undergoing an MRI * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed * No concurrent anticancer biologic therapy Chemotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No concurrent anticancer cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior hormonal or steroid therapy (other than replacement) * No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy (except for replacement) * No concurrent dexamethasone or prednisone Radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy Surgery * More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery * No concurrent surgery for cancer Other * Recovered from prior therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior investigational agents * More then 28 days since prior alteration of antihypertensive medications * Concurrent bisphosphonates allowed * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, fluoxetine, or fluvoxamine) * No concurrent oral hypoglycemics (e.g., glipizide, glyburide, rosiglitazone, or tolbutamide) * No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation (e.g., warfarin at therapeutic doses) * Low-dose anticoagulation for prophylaxis allowed * No concurrent cyclosporine * No concurrent grapefruit juice * No concurrent amiodarone, mibefradil, phenobarbital, or pioglitazone * No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort) * No concurrent rifabutin or diethyldithiocarbamate * No concurrent gestodene, mifepristone, or modafinil * No concurrent herbal supplements, vitamins, or non-traditional compounds