PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal Status: Premenopausal or postmenopausal Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 150,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT/SGPT no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: Ejection fraction normal by MUGA No history of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, or ischemic heart disease Other: No other prior malignancy except basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 2 months after study No pre-existing clinically significant peripheral neuropathy