PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Other: No diabetes mellitus or any other complications to high dose corticosteroid therapy No acute concurrent complications such as infections Other prior malignancy(ies) must have been curatively treated and demonstrate no evidence of recurrence Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Adequate contraception required of all fertile patients