PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over. Sex: Female. Menopausal status: Not specified. Performance status: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score range 0-2. Life expectancy: At least 6 months. Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm3. Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3. Hepatic: serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and/or serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN). Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN. Bilirubin no greater than ULN. No SGOT and/or SGPT greater than 1.5 times ULN if concomitant with alkaline phosphatase greater than 2.5 times ULN. Renal: Calcium no greater than 1.2 times ULN. Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN. Cardiovascular:left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at least institutional lower limit of normal on multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA) or echocardiogram. No myocardial infarction within 6 months. No angina pectoris requiring antianginal medication. No history of congestive heart failure. No cardiac arrhythmias requiring medication. No vascular disease with documented cardiac function compromise No uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic greater than 100 mm Hg). Other: Not pregnant or nursing. Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception. No diabetics with fasting blood sugar greater than 200 mg/dL. No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1. No psychosis or addictive disorders. No known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived drugs.