Lenalidomide and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed solid tumor * Advanced disease * Refractory to standard therapy OR no standard therapy exists * Measurable or evaluable disease * No active brain metastases * Previously treated (e.g., surgery or radiotherapy) brain metastases are allowed provided they are currently asymptomatic and inactive by CT scan or MRI PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 4 months Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN * AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease Immunologic * No prior desquamating rash or ≥ grade 2 allergic reaction while receiving thalidomide * No history of hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated in polysorbate 80 * No history of allergic reaction to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study drugs Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other uncontrolled illness or other condition that would preclude study compliance * No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors during course 1 of study treatment * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * At least 6 weeks since prior mitomycin or nitrosoureas * No more than 2 prior courses of mitomycin * No other concurrent chemotherapy Radiotherapy * No prior pelvic radiotherapy Other * At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer therapy * No concurrent warfarin for anticoagulation (heparin is allowed) * Recovered from all prior treatment * No other concurrent anticancer therapy except bisphosphonates * No other concurrent investigational agents