PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-3 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No hypertension for which medication cannot be discontinued for 24 hours through the day of each chemotherapy treatment Other: No history of neuropathy (e.g., diabetic neuropathy) No significant infection Prior malignancy allowed if disease free for at least 12 months No physical disabilities precluding vibration perception threshold testing of the upper and lower extremity (e.g., amputation, paraplegia)