PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Any age Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: No capillary leak syndrome Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 5 mg/dL Renal: Creatinine less than 4 mg/dL No renal failure requiring dialysis Cardiovascular: No hypotension No severe venooclusive disease Pulmonary: No pulmonary infiltrates OR No requirement for greater than 2 L oxygen Other: No weight gain greater than 5% of baseline weight No concurrent sepsis No temperature of 39 degrees C or higher for two or more days No clinically evident ascites