PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 11.7 mg/dL AST/ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (5 times upper limit of normal in presence of liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.7 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No concurrent treatment for congestive cardiac failure Cardiac function within normal limits by MUGA or ECHO scan, if prior anthracycline therapy Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No concurrent nonmalignant systemic disease No active uncontrolled infection No prior history of malignant disease except: Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin Curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix