RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of MEN-10755 in treating adults who have recurrent or refractory solid tumors.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MEN-10755 in patients with recurrent or refractory adult solid tumors. II. Determine the qualitative and quantitative toxic effects of MEN-10755 and study the predictability, duration, intensity, onset, reversibility, and dose relationship of the toxic effects in these patients. III. Propose a safe dose for phase II study. IV. Assess the pharmacokinetics of MEN-10755 at different dose levels in these patients. V. Document any possible antitumor activity of MEN-10755.

OUTLINE: This is an open label, nonrandomized study. Patients receive MEN-10755 as a single 15 minute intravenous infusion every 3 weeks, or upon recovery from toxicity. Doses will be escalated in decreasing rates and depending on the clinical judgement of the investigator. The MTD is the dose at which dose limiting toxicity is observed in at least 2 of 6 patients at a given dose level. Patients will be removed from the study if cardiac toxicity, disease progression, or renal, cardiac or pulmonary decline is present.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: At least 5 evaluable patients will be enrolled.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: See General Eligibility Criteria

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance Status: WHO 0-2 Life Expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: ANC at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Liver function tests no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless related to liver metastases, then no greater than 5 times ULN) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: LVEF greater than 50% (measured by MUGA scan) Other: Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraceptive method must be used during study No active bacterial infections No other nonmaliganant diseases No history of alcoholism or drug abuse No psychosis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior immunotherapy within 4 weeks of study Concurrent use of growth factors is allowed in cases of febrile neutropenia (prophylactic use not allowed) Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy within 4 weeks of study No prior nitrosoureas, mitomycin, or high dose carboplatin within 6 weeks of study Endocrine therapy: No concurrent corticosteroids (unless approved by clinical investigator) Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy within 4 weeks of study No prior extensive radiotherapy within 6 weeks of study Surgery: Not specified Other: No prior experimental therapy No prior anthracyclines or anthracenediones