OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of paclitaxel. All patients receive paclitaxel IV over 1 hour, then cisplatin IV over 30 minutes, followed by irinotecan IV over 30 minutes weekly for 4 weeks on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. Treatment is repeated every six weeks for at least 3 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of paclitaxel. If 2 or more patients experience dose limiting toxicity (DLT) at a particular dose level, escalation ceases and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is defined as the previous dose level. Patients are followed until death.