Irinotecan and Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor * Metastatic or unresectable * Standard curative or palliative therapy is no longer effective or does not exist * Measurable or assessable disease * No uncontrolled brain metastases * Patients with brain metastases are eligible provided the following are true: * Stable neurologic status * At least 4 weeks since prior steroids or anticonvulsants * No neurologic dysfunction that would confound evaluation * Performance status - Karnofsky 70-100% * More than 12 weeks * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin normal * AST and ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Creatinine normal * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No history of inflammatory bowel disease requiring therapy * No chronic diarrhea syndromes * No paralytic ileus * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile female patients must use 2 forms of effective contraception, including 1 highly effective method, for at least 4 weeks before, during, and for 4 weeks after study participation * Male patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * No prior allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to study drugs * No uncontrolled seizure disorder * No other concurrent uncontrolled illness that would preclude study participation * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No ongoing or active infection * No significant traumatic injury within the past 28 days * No serious, nonhealing wounds or ulcers * No bone fractures * No preexisting peripheral neuropathy grade 2 or greater * At least 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * More than 28 days since prior major surgical procedure or open biopsy * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational therapy * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational or commercial agents or therapies for the malignancy