PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL 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 (ULN) ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN (no greater than 4.0 times ULN with liver or bone metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: No clinically significant cardiovascular disease (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, intractable arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, or New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease) Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% or above lower limit of normal, whichever is lower Other: No severe hypersensitivity to products containing Cremophor EL (e.g., cyclosporine or teniposide for injection concentrate) No other serious medical condition that would preclude study Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception