BMS-247550 in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancers

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed malignant solid tumor or lymphoma for which no other potentially curative therapeutic option exists or demonstrates increased survival (considering tumor type, stage, and number of prior regimens) No symptomatic brain metastases requiring dexamethasone No progression or cerebral edema on CT scan or MRI within the past 4 weeks PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No atrial or ventricular arrhythmias requiring medication No ischemic event within the past 6 months Other: No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1 No other serious medical illness or active infection that would preclude study participation No dementia, psychiatric illness, or other alteration in mental status that would preclude study compliance No other active malignancy except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No history of allergy or hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel or other Cremophor EL-containing compound Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study completion PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) and recovered No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: At least 4 weeks since prior anticancer hormonal therapy and recovered No concurrent hormonal therapy except LHRH agonists for non-castrated prostate cancer, contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy (e.g., conjugated estrogens), or megestrol as an appetite stimulant Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Concurrent palliative radiotherapy to limited sites allowed Surgery: At least 4 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: At least 30 days since prior investigational agents and recovered No other concurrent experimental medications No concurrent antiretroviral (HAART) therapy for HIV-positive patients