PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 3 months Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST/ALT less than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No severe cardiac dysfunction or arrhythmia Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No concurrent unstable medical illness, infection, or other significant medical problem No clinically apparent neuropathy, including hearing loss No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical conditions that may preclude study