Paclitaxel and ABI-007 in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor * Considered incurable * Locally advanced or metastatic disease * Likely to be responsive to taxane-based therapy * Patients who are refractory to prior paclitaxel are ineligible * No symptomatic or untreated brain metastasis or carcinomatous meningitis * No patients who are unable to remain free of corticosteroid therapy for \> 4 weeks due to CNS disease * No previously untreated locally advanced breast cancer * No hematologic malignancy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 3 months Hematopoietic * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * ALT and AST ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 40% * No clinical signs or symptoms of heart failure * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study participation * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to paclitaxel (e.g., docetaxel, Cremophor\^® EL \[CrEL\], polysorbate 80 \[Tween 80\], or CrEL-containing medications \[e.g., cyclosporine\]) * No history of seizure disorder requiring anticonvulsant therapy * No active serious infection * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other uncontrolled illness PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy * No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) during courses 1 and 2 Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy * Concurrent luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists for prostate cancer allowed Radiotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 2 weeks since prior drugs, herbal preparations, or dietary supplements known to influence CYP3A4 (e.g., phenytoin, rifampin, Hypericum perforatum \[St. John's wort\], garlic supplements, or grapefruit juice) and/or CYP2C8 * No concurrent substances known or likely to interfere with the pharmacokinetics of paclitaxel (e.g., verapamil or cyclosporine) * No other concurrent investigational agents * No other concurrent anticancer therapy