PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000 Platelets at least 75,000 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/Dl Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times normal Renal: Not specified Other: No concurrent disease that renders patient medically or psychologically unable to tolerate treatment