PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 2,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm3 Hemoglobin greater than 10 g/dL Absolute lymphocyte count no greater than 5,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) SGOT/SGPT less than 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN No active hepatitis Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No severe cardiovascular disease No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No unstable angina No class III or IV congestive heart failure No ventricular tachyarrhythmias Other: No active uncontrolled infections or infections requiring systemic antibiotics HIV negative No other malignancy within the past 5 years except basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No history of neuropsychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception