PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000 AGC at least 1,500 Platelets at least 100,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST/ALT no greater than 5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Metabolic: Glucose no greater than 200 mg/dL Electrolytes within 10% normal Other: No active infection that contraindicates entry No significant medical problem that contraindicates entry Effective contraception required of fertile patients Able and willing to participate in pharmacokinetic sampling