PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: Karnofsky 70%-100% Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: ANC at least 1,500 Platelets at least 100,000 Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal ALT less than 1.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women Effective contraception required of fertile patients