PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 OR Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: More than 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.25 times ULN Estimated glomerular filtration rate at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No history of congestive heart failure (even if medically controlled) No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No history of atrial or ventricular arrhythmias Other: No motor or sensory neurologic pathology or symptoms greater than grade 1 No active infection or other serious medical condition that would preclude study No prior allergy to drug containing Cremophor EL No dementia or significantly altered mental state that would preclude informed consent No complete bowel obstruction No other prior malignancy except curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception