PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Not specified Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 50-100% Life expectancy: At least 1 month Hematopoietic: Neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL OR Hematocrit at least 35% Hepatic: See Disease Characteristics No active acute hepatitis Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No concurrent cardiovascular disease that is poorly controlled with currently available treatment or of such severity as to preclude study Pulmonary: No concurrent pulmonary disease that is poorly controlled with currently available treatment or of such severity as to preclude study Other: No other concurrent illness (e.g., CNS disease) that is poorly controlled with currently available treatment or of such severity as to preclude study No severe infection requiring treatment Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception