Radiation Therapy and Sargramostim in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid malignancy * Advanced disease * Radiotherapy is appropriate treatment (i.e., radio-responsive) * No tumors beyond the reach of kilovoltage beam (e.g., \> 15 cm beneath the skin) * At least 1 lesion accessible to needle localization and catheter placement * May be refractory to prior chemotherapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * 0-4 Life expectancy * At least 2 months Hematopoietic * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL (RBC transfusion allowed) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 (transfusion independent) * No excessive leukemic blasts * No bleeding diathesis Hepatic * PT and PTT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST or ALT \< 2 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase \< 2 times ULN Renal * Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * No contraindication to MRI or CT scan * No medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude giving informed consent * Able to lie flat for 1 hour * No known hypersensitivity to sargramostim (GM-CSF) or any of its components PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Prior biologic therapy allowed * No concurrent biologic therapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Concurrent hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy * Prior radiotherapy to planned treatment site allowed * No other concurrent radiotherapy to planned treatment site Surgery * Prior surgery allowed Other * More than 14 days since prior radiosensitizers * No other concurrent investigational therapy