PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2 mg/dL AST no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Other: No other serious medical illness No serious infection No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or any in situ carcinoma