PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Greater than 3 months Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL (transfusion allowed) No bleeding disorder (except occult blood for gastrointestinal cancers) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL ALT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 5 times ULN with liver metastases) PT and PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No active heart disease No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months No symptomatic coronary artery disease or heart block No uncontrolled congestive heart failure Pulmonary: No moderate to severe compromise of pulmonary function Other: No active infection No mental deficits and/or psychiatric history that would preclude study No other concurrent life threatening illness Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 18 months after study