PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin normal AST or ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if documented liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: LVEF normal No history of New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease with congestive heart failure No unstable cardiovascular disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other prior primary cancer within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No hypersensitivity to anthracycline therapy No history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to products containing Chremophor EL (e.g., cyclosporine or teniposide for injection concentrate) No other significant medical disorder (e.g., active uncontrolled infection) that would preclude study treatment