Experimental drug TdCyd aims to reactivate Tumor-Fighting genes in advanced cancer

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Patients must have histologically documented solid tumors whose disease has progressed on standard therapy or for which there is no available standard therapy. * Patients must have measurable or evaluable disease. * Age greater than or equal to 18 years of age. * ECOG performance status less than or equal to 2. * Life expectancy \> 3 months. * Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: 1. absolute neutrophil count greater than or equal to 1,500/mcL 2. platelets greater than or equal to 100,000/mcL 3. total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal 4. AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) less than or equal to 3 times institutional upper limit of normal 5. creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal OR e. creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for patients with creatinine levels above 1.5 times institutional normal * Because nucleoside analogs are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use two forms of contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence; sterilization) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after completing study treatment. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use two forms of contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and for 3 months after completion of administration of TdCyd. * Patients must have completed any chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biologic therapy greater than or equal to 4 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study. Patients must be greater than or equal to 2 weeks since any prior administration of a study drug in a phase 0 or equivalent study and be greater than or equal to 2 weeks since any prior palliative radiation or cyberknife therapy. Patients must have recovered to grade 1 from prior toxicity or adverse events. Patients with bone metastases or hypercalcemia on intravenous bisphosphonate treatment prior to study entry may continue this treatment. * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. * Willingness to provide blood and urine samples for research purposes. * Ability to swallow pills/capsules. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents. * Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding are excluded from this study. * Patients with clinically significant illnesses which would compromise participation in the study, including, but not limited to active or uncontrolled infection, immune deficiencies, known HIV infection requiring protease inhibitor therapy, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. * Patients with known brain metastases or carcinomatous meningitis are excluded from this clinical trial, with the exception of patients whose brain metastatic disease status has remained stable for greater than or equal to 1 month after treatment of the brain metastases. Patients should not be on anti-seizure medications. These patients may be enrolled at the discretion of the Principal Investigator. * Malabsorption syndrome or other conditions that would interfere with intestinal absorption. INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES: Both men and women of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial.