OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation, multicenter study. Patients receive augmerosen (G3139) IV continuously on days 1-7 and irinotecan IV over 90 minutes on day 6. Treatment continues every 21 days in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of G3139 and irinotecan until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Once the MTD is determined, additional patients are accrued to receive treatment with G3139 and irinotecan at the recommended phase II dose. Patients are followed every 30 days until toxicity resolves.