PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-3 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Total bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL OR Direct bilirubin no greater than 1.0 mg/dL Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 4 times upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT or AST no greater than 3 times ULN Renal: Creatinine clearance greater than 40 mL/min Cardiovascular: Echocardiographic ejection fraction greater than 50% At least 3 years since prior enzyme documented myocardial infarction Interventricular septal thickness no greater than 20 mm No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure No grade 2 or 3 A-V block No chronic atrial fibrillation No sustained (greater than 30 seconds) ventricular tachycardia or frequent episodes (greater than 20 in 24 hours) of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular pairs, detected by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV positive allowed No uncontrolled infection No severe diarrhea not controllable with medication or that requires total parenteral nutrition No other concurrent active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer or cervical cancer