PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin no greater than 10 g/dL OR transfusion requirement of at least 3 packs of RBCs per month OR Platelet count less than 50,000/mm3 OR Absolute neutrophil count less than 1,000/mm3 No disseminated intravascular coagulation defined as fibrinogen less than 100 mg/dL AND prolonged PT, PTT, or thrombin time AND platelet count less than 25,000/mm3 without transfusion Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to underlying disease or Gilbert's syndrome) SGPT and SGOT no greater than 4 times ULN (unless due to underlying disease or Gilbert's syndrome) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension No congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, or angina pectoris No history of myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No other significant cardiovascular disease LVEF within normal range by MUGA or echocardiogram No active ischemia Pulmonary: No pulmonary dysfunction Other: No central or peripheral neuropathy No uncontrolled or unstable diabetes No other significant organ system dysfunction HIV negative No prior malignancy except basal cell carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the uterus No active, uncontrolled infection Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study