PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 15 Performance status: Karnofsky 50%-100% Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000 Platelets at least 75,000 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL AST/ALT less than 3 times normal No history of bleeding disorder No hepatic disease resulting in hospitalization Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL No renal disease resulting in hospitalization Cardiovascular: No ongoing anticoagulation for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) No residual symptoms from DVT after discontinuation of anticoagulation No cardiac disease resulting in hospitalization Pulmonary: No pulmonary disease resulting in hospitalization Other: No peripheral neuropathy of any etiology HIV negative No pregnant or nursing women Adequate contraception required during and for 12 months following protocol therapy