PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 16 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Albumin at least 2.8 g/dL SGOT or SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) PT or INR no greater than 1.5 times ULN (if not on Coumadin therapy) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active congestive heart failure No uncontrolled angina No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception before and during study No concurrent serious infection No other life threatening illness No overt psychosis or mental disability that would preclude informed consent No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except: Curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix