PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Greater than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: At least 3 months since prior myocardial infarction No uncontrolled congestive heart failure No uncontrolled arrhythmias Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception Peripheral neuropathy less than grade 2 No history of hypersensitivity to products containing polysorbate 80 No other significant medical condition No meningeal carcinomatosis No weight loss of greater than 10% within past 3 months due to disease