PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active congestive heart failure No uncontrolled angina No myocardial infarction within past 6 months Neurologic: No history of an existing grade 3-4 peripheral neuropathy of any etiology Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No allergy to camptothecin or its derivatives No concurrent serious infection No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No overt psychosis, mental disability, or incompetence No other life threatening disease