PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 2,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion or epoetin alfa allowed) Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled serious cardiac disease No active congestive heart failure, unstable angina, pericardial effusion, or arrhythmia Pulmonary: FVC or FEV1 at least 50% Resting or exercise SaO2 on room air at least 90% by pulse oximetry Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years, except: Nonmelanomatous skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude compliance No active serious infection No concurrent clinically significant peripheral neuropathy No prior significant allergic reaction to drugs containing Cremophor (e.g., cyclosporine or vitamin K) No greater than 10% weight loss in the past 3 months