PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Hematopoietic: WBC more than 4,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 150,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 65 mL/min per 1.73 square meters Cardiovascular: No NYHA class 3/4 status No cerebral vascular disease No hypertension Other: No severe uncontrolled diabetes No uncontrolled infection No other medical condition that precludes treatment No mental status abnormality that precludes comprehension of or compliance with treatment No active cancer arising at another primary site other than basal cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ cervical carcinoma