PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST or ALT less than 2 times ULN (less than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: Creatinine normal Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% or normal by echocardiogram or MUGA scan No active ischemic heart disease No uncontrolled hypertension No poorly controlled atrial arrhythmias, symptomatic angina pectoris, or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No symptomatic congestive heart failure, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery within the past 12 months Other: No other primary cancer within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanomatous skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No condition that would preclude informed consent or compliance