PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 19 to 90 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGOT or SGPT less than 2.0 times upper limit of normal Renal: Normal serum creatinine Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure No symptomatic ischemic heart disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception HIV negative No uncontrolled infection No poorly controlled diseases (e.g., diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus) No history of psychiatric disorders No other malignancies within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No concurrent severe medical problems No history of allergic reaction to topotecan and its derivatives