PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy No concurrent colony stimulating factors (CSFs) during first course of therapy At least 24 hours since prior CSFs during subsequent courses of therapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior oxaliplatin No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen If initial therapy did not include paclitaxel, a second regimen including paclitaxel is allowed At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy: At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignant tumor Concurrent continuation of hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to sites of measurable disease used on this trial No prior radiotherapy to greater than 25% of bone marrow Surgery: At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent antiretroviral therapy (HAART)