Vinorelbine in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors That Have Not Responded to Treatment and Liver Dysfunction

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumor * Any histology allowed * Refractory to standard therapy OR no standard therapy exists * Previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer allowed, provided abnormal liver function is present, defined as moderate (group 3) or severe (group 4) * Measurable disease not required * Present measurable disease requires baseline measurements within 4 weeks of study entry * Patients with acute hepatitis from viral or drug etiologies should recover to a stable baseline prior to study therapy * History of brain metastasis allowed, provided the following criteria are met: * Metastasis has been controlled by radiotherapy or surgery * Patient is not currently on corticosteroids * Neurologic status is stable PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Karnofsky performance status 70-100% * Life expectancy ≥ 2 months * ANC = 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count = 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin = 10 g/dL (transfusion to this level allowed) * Creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/ min * Patients with EKG evidence of first- or second-degree AV block or left or right bundle branch block are ineligible for the lidocaine bolus, but may otherwise be treated on this protocol * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No concurrent illness (e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary, or central nervous system) that is poorly controlled or of such severity that the investigator deems unwise to enter the patient on protocol * Must have ability to comply with study treatment and required tests * Obstructive jaundice requires a drainage procedure prior to study treatment PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosourea therapy) * No prior radiotherapy to \> 30% of the bone marrow or more than standard adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy for rectal cancer