PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: Lansky 60-100% OR Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: At least 6 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 750/mm3 (between 300-750/mm3, if due to bone marrow infiltration by malignancy) Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 (between 20,000-75,000/mm3, if due to bone marrow infiltration by malignancy) Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Renal: Creatinine less than 2 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min Neurologic: No peripheral neuropathy grade 3 or 4 No seizure disorder in patients without CNS malignancies Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy tests during study and for 1 month after final dose of thalidomide Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 1 month after study