Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage IV Adrenal Gland Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed stage IV adrenal gland carcinoma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists * Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan * Tumor must be greater than 2 cm at the largest diameter for the lymph nodes located in the head, neck, axillary, inguinal, or femoral areas and at least 0.5 cm in the largest diameter for other localizations PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 6 months and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal * No hepatic failure Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: * No severe heart disease * No uncontrolled hypertension * No history of congestive heart failure * No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: * No severe lung disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * No serious active infections or fever * No other concurrent serious disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered * No concurrent immunomodulating agents C…