PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior antitumor therapy with recombinant DNA products including viral based gene therapy or bacterial plasmids At least 28 days since prior immunotherapy and at least 14 days since complete recovery At least 14 days since complete recovery from prior antiviral therapy No concurrent hematopoietic growth factors (filgrastim (G-CSF) or sargramostim (GM-CSF)) No concurrent recombinant interleukin-2 therapy Prior G-CSF or GM-CSF adjunct therapy allowed Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 28 days since prior chemotherapy and at least 14 days since complete recovery No prior methotrexate Endocrine therapy: No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: At least 28 days since prior radiotherapy and at least 14 days since complete recovery Surgery: No planned surgical resection Other: At least 14 days since complete recovery from prior antibiotic therapy No concurrent high dose nonsteroidal antiinflammatories or immunosuppressive drugs At least 30 days since prior investigational drugs