This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of 3-AP in treating patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. 3-AP may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the safety, tolerability, and toxicity of oral 3-AP in patients with advanced solid tumors.

II. Determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose of this drug in these patients.

III. Determine the oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of this drug. IV. Assess tumoral expression of genes involved in response and resistance to 3-AP.

V. Observe and record any tumor response in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, dose-escalation study.

Patients receive a one time dose of 3-AP IV over 2 hours on day -7. Patients then receive oral 3-AP twice daily on days 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of oral 3-AP until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis are collected periodically over 8 hours after the IV dose of 3-AP and after the first oral dose of 3-AP during course 1.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed periodically.

Criteria:

• Must be able to swallow
• Histologically confirmed solid tumor
• Advanced or metastatic disease
• Measurable or evaluable disease
• No known active CNS metastases
• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Life expectancy > 3 months
• Progressive disease during >= 1 prior standard therapy OR disease unlikely to respond to any currently available therapies
• Patients with previously treated CNS metastases who have no evidence of new CNS metastases AND are stable for >= 2 months are eligible
• Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin >= 10 g/dL (transfusions allowed)
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mm^3
• ALT and AST =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase =< 2.5 times ULN
• Creatinine =< 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance >= 50 mL/min
• Bilirubin normal
• PT/PTT =< 1.5 times ULN
• FEV1 >= 1.2 L
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception 2 weeks prior to and during study treatment
• No mental deficits and/or psychiatric history that may preclude study treatment
• No active heart disease, including any of the following: myocardial infarction within the past 3 months, symptomatic coronary artery disease or heart block, uncontrolled congestive heart failure
• No moderate to severe compromise of pulmonary function
• No active infection
• No other life-threatening illness
• No active coagulation disorder other than occult blood
• No known positivity for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
• Recovered from prior treatment
• Prior gemcitabine allowed
• More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin)
• More than 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy or any other treatment for this cancer
• No prior 3-AP
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• No other concurrent investigational agent