PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 21 and over Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 6 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL Other: No other sufficiently severe medical problems unrelated to malignancy that would preclude study compliance or cause exposure to undue risks No prior unmanageable reaction to paclitaxel