Motexafin Gadolinium and Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed advanced malignancy that is considered incurable * Recurrent or metastatic disease * Relapsed solid tumors include, but are not limited to the following sites: * Lung * Breast * Colon * Prostate * Head and neck * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Sex * Not specified Menopausal status * Not specified Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * LVEF greater than 45% at rest * No prior myocardial infarction * No congestive heart failure * No clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias Other: * No history of HIV infection * No history of porphyria * No glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 6 months after study participation PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy * No prior lifetime cumulative doxorubicin exposure of more than 300 mg/m\^2 * No other concurrent cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Ra…