PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Sex: Female Menopausal Status: Not specified Performance status: ECOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater 2 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test required if pre- or peri-menopausal (i.e., last menstrual period within one year prior to study) Pre- or peri-menopausal sexually active women must use effective contraception No other invasive malignancy within last 5 years except curatively treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No history of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, symptomatic osteoarthritis requiring therapy, or other inflammatory arthritis At least 5 years since prior invasive malignancies except: Curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin Carcinoma in situ of the cervix