Tumor tissue and blood samples from patients enrolled in the phase II portion of the study are examined for various biological markers. Immunohistochemistry is used to measure BCL-2 gene, BCL-xL gene, BAX gene, and p27. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction is used to assay the expression of thymidylate synthase, folsyl-polyglutamate synthase, and reduced folate carrier. Levels of plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1 gene, vascular endothelial growth factor, and osteopontin are measured by immunoenzyme techniques. The nuclear expression of NF-kB and p27 in blood is compared before and after study treatment by flow cytometry.