Bortezomib and Pemetrexed Disodium in Treating Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Other Solid Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Cytologically or histologically confirmed diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Advanced solid tumor that progressed after standard therapy or for which no effective curative therapy exists (phase I) * Stage IIIB (pleural effusion) or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (phase II) * Disease must have progressed or recurred after 1 platinum-based therapy regimen * NSCLC that has progressed or recurred after first-line therapy for stage IIIA or IIIB disease allowed * Measurable disease * Disease in previously irradiated sites is considered measurable if there is clear disease progression following radiotherapy * Evaluable disease (bone metastases, pleural fluid, ascites) allowed (phase I) * No symptomatic brain metastasis or disease requiring steroids and anticonvulsants * Asymptomatic, previously treated (surgical resection or radiotherapy) brain metastases allowed provided patient is neurologically stable and has been off steroids and anticonvulsants for ≥ 4 weeks PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Zubrod performance status 0-2 (phase I) or 0-1 (phase II) * Life expectancy ≥ 3 months * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Bilirubin normal * AST ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal * Granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count of ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment * No pre-existing neuropathy ≥ grade 2 * No other prior malignancy except for the following (phase II): * Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * In situ cervical cancer * Adequately treated stage I or II cancer currently in complete remission * Any other cancer from which the patient has been disease free for \> 5 years * No hypersensitivity to bortezomib, boron, or mannitol * No cardiovascular complications, including any of the following: * Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * New York Heart Association class III-IV heart failure * Uncontrolled angina * Severe uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias * Electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of acute ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities * Any ECG abnormality at screening must be documented as not medically relevant PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior bortezomib or pemetrexed disodium * Any number of prior chemotherapy regimens allowed (phase I) * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin C) and recovered * More than 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or salicylates 2 days prior and 2 days after (5 days pre and post for long-acting NSAIDs) administration of pemetrexed disodium * No concurrent anticonvulsants that are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 pathway