PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 15 to 60 Performance status: WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 1.5 times ULN AST no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No cardiac contraindications to anthracycline chemotherapy Ventricular ejection fraction at least 45% Other: No uncontrolled infection No concurrent severe neurological or psychiatric disease No other progressive malignant nonhematological disease