PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens Prior taxanes allowed At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosourea or mitomycin) No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics No concurrent antineoplastic hormonal therapy Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior wide-field radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs At least 7 days since prior substrates of cytochrome P450-3A4 (CYP3A4) No other concurrent experimental anticancer medications No concurrent dolasetron or droperidol No medications or other agents known to prolong the QT interval for at least 4 half-lives prior to, during, and for 24 hours after administration of BMS-214662 Concurrent antihistamines allowed