PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: SGOT less than 3 times upper limit of normal Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No myocardial infarction within past 6 months No significant arrhythmia within past 3 months Hypertension allowed provided controlled with medication Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Concurrent reversible complications (e.g., hyperuricemia, hyperviscosity) allowed provided therapy for complication initiated and complications subsiding Other prior malignancies allowed provided curatively treated and currently disease free