PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 75,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 8 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.2 mg/dL AST no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No known allergy to Cremophor or Cremophor based drug products No uncontrolled colon or small bowel disorders No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except: Basal cell skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition, or laboratory abnormality that would preclude compliance