A Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Intravenous DX-8951f Administered Daily for Five Days Every Three Weeks to Pediatric Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors and Lymphomas

Study start date: September 1, 1999

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed advanced solid tumors, including brain tumors and lymphomas, that have failed standard therapy (surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, or chemotherapy) or for which no standard therapy exists Histology requirement waived for brain stem gliomas PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 21 and under at diagnosis Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm^3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR GFR at least 70 mL/min Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test No history of severe or life-threatening hypersensitivity to camptothecin analogs HIV negative No other concurrent severe or uncontrolled medical illness No systemic infection PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Recovered from prior immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior extensive radiotherapy involving cranial, whole pelvic, or at least 25% of bone marrow reserve Recovered from prior radiotherapy Concurrent localized radiotherapy for pain allowed Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior surgery Other: No other concurrent antitumor therapy No concurrent drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A enzyme