PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 65 Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Immunologic: No history of seasonal or recurrent asthma within the past 5 years No concurrent asthmatic symptoms (e.g., wheezing) related to a current respiratory tract infection No anaphylactic/anaphylactoid type event manifested by disseminated urticaria, laryngeal edema, hypotension, and/or bronchospasm (e.g., food or insect venom) within the past 5 years Drug allergies manifested solely by rash allowed No history of angioedema or recurrent urticaria lasting longer than 14 days No history of hereditary or acquired angioedema No known allergy to E. coli derived products Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception