PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior emetogenic chemotherapy Prior nonemetogenic chemotherapy (dose and/or agent) allowed provided antiemetic agents were not required and nausea and emesis did not result Endocrine therapy: No chronic (more than 1 month) or concurrent corticosteroids except for replacement or maintenance doses up to 10 mg prednisone or equivalent or prophylactic pretherapy with dexamethasone on day 0 Radiotherapy: At least 24 hours since prior radiotherapy to any abdominal field (T10-L5) No concurrent radiotherapy to any abdominal field (T10-L5) Prior or concurrent radiotherapy to other fields allowed (e.g., pelvic irradiation, thoracic irradiation) Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) since prior investigational drugs At least 8 hours since prior other short acting agents administered for procedures (e.g., port insertion) At least 8 hours since prior and no concurrent benzodiazepines Concurrent narcotic analgesics allowed provided receiving for at least 1 week prior with no nausea or emesis No chronic (more than 1 month) or concurrent agents known to have a significant effect on emesis (e.g., antipsychotics, cannabinoids, metoclopramide, and 5HT3 receptor antagonists) No other concurrent prophylactic antiemetics