RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of gemcitabine and cisplatin in treating patients who have metastatic or recurrent solid tumors.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the toxicity and maximum tolerated dose of gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent nonhematologic malignancies.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of gemcitabine. Patients receive gemcitabine IV on days 1 and 8, followed immediately by cisplatin IV over 2 hours on day 8. Courses repeat every 3 weeks for at least 2 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-5 patients receive escalating doses of gemcitabine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which at least 2 of 5 patients experience dose limiting toxicity. Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 18 patients will be accrued for this study within 18 months.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or recurrent nonhematologic malignancy that is not amenable to or has failed standard therapy Measurable or evaluable disease No uncontrolled brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Pulmonary: No respiratory failure Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active infection or other concurrent severe medical illness that would interfere with compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas) and recovered No prior cisplatin or gemcitabine Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified