PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Other: No active infection Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test for premenopausal women Fertile patients must use effective contraception No concurrent uncontrolled systemic disorders No prior malignant disease within the past year except in situ carcinoma of the cervix or curatively treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin No history of allergy to bryostatin 1 or its vehicle