Thalidomide and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Advanced Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed malignancy not amenable to curative surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy * Tumor types may include any of the following: * Any solid tumor including, but not limited to, head and neck, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, melanoma, and sarcoma * Primary CNS neoplasms if the following are true: * Received primary radiotherapy * No concurrent corticosteroids or has been on a stable corticosteroid dose for at least 30 days * No concurrent enzyme-inducible anti-epileptic medications (i.e., carbamazepine or phenytoin) * Multiple myeloma * Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma * No refractory or relapsed acute or chronic leukemia * Measurable or evaluable disease * No life-prolonging therapy available * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Male or female Menopausal status * Not specified Performance status * ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy * At least 4 months Hematopoietic * WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and/or ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN if alkaline phosphatase less than ULN OR * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times ULN if AST/ALT less than ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular *…