PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 56 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-3 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT/SGPT no greater than 4 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min Cardiovascular: LVEF at least 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram No unstable cardiac arrhythmias or angina Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other malignancy within the past 5 years except: Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix Adequately treated stage I or II cancer in complete remission