OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. All patients receive 3 courses of chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin and etoposide on days 0 and 1, bleomycin and vincristine on days 0 and 7, cyclophosphamide on day 0, and prednisone on days 0-6. Filgrastim (G-CSF) is administered on days 5-6 and 8-19. Each course is 21 days in length. Patients assigned to arm I receive only these drugs. Patients assigned to arm II receive dexrazoxane on days 0, 1, and 7 in addition to therapy as in arm I. Patients who exhibit a complete remission (CR) or provisional CR then receive radiotherapy to the regional field 5 days a week for 2.8 weeks. If the disease is not responsive, 2 more courses of chemotherapy are given. Patients whose disease remains nonresponsive or progresses go off the study. Radiotherapy may follow for others. Patients are followed every 3 months for the first year, every 4 months for the second year, every 6 months for the third year, and then annually thereafter.