PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 21 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 11.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 mg/dL SGOT less than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No significant clinical hearing loss or use of hearing aid No family history of early retinal blindness or ornithine diaminotransferase deficiency