OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of paclitaxel. Patients receive paclitaxel IV on days 1, 8, and 15. Patients also receive oral fluorouracil-uracil and leucovorin calcium twice daily on days 2-6, 9-13, and 16-20. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for up to 6 courses in the absence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of paclitaxel until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which at least 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Patients are followed at 2 months and then for survival.