OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and maximum tolerated dose of CP-609,754 in patients with advanced solid tumors. II. Determine the predictability, duration, intensity, onset, reversibility, and dose relationship of any observed toxicities in these patients when treated with this regimen. III. Determine any preliminary evidence of antitumor activity of this treatment as assessed by response rate and time to disease progression in this patient population.