PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-3 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9.5 g/dL (without transfusion support) Hepatic: Bilirubin and transaminase less than 2 times the upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR Estimated creatinine clearance at least 35 mL/min Cardiovascular: No clinical history of heart disease Normal ECG OR Ejection fraction (ECHO, MUGA, or ventriculography) at least 45% Other: Spinal cord compression controlled No active peptic ulcer disease No active, or likely to become active, second malignancy