PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky greater than 70% Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Transaminases no greater than 2.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: Ejection fraction greater than 40% Other: Not pregnant or nursing No serious concurrent illness