PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 80,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Albumin at least 2.8 g/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) PT/INR no greater than 1.5 times ULN if not on coumadin therapy Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active congestive heart failure No uncontrolled angina No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other: No concurrent serious infection No other life threatening illness No overt psychosis or mental disability that would preclude informed consent No other malignancy within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception 1 month prior to and during the study