PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 120,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8.0 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL or 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST no greater than 56 U/L or 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL or 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: At least 6 months since acute deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism No serious ventricular arrhythmia No significant heart disease No active angina (stable or unstable) No myocardial infarction within 6 months No congestive heart failure No transient ischemic attack or stroke within 6 months Neurologic: No grade 3-4 peripheral neuropathy Other: No severe infection No severe malnutrition No other serious medical illnesses