PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to 70 Sex: Male Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: No significant hepatic impairment Renal: No significant renal impairment Other: No known hypersensitivity to serotonin antagonists No prior anticipatory emesis No communication impairments (e.g., language problem, poor mental development, or impaired cerebral function) that would preclude study