PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine less than 3.0 mg/dL Other: No active infections Serum calcium within institutional normal range No history of hypercalcemia Prior malignancy other than nasopharyngeal carcinoma allowed No concurrent malignancy Not pregnant or lactating Fertile patients must use effective contraception