PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 16 Performance status: ECOG/ZUBROD/WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 4,000 Platelets greater than 100,000 Hematocrit greater than 30% Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 2 mg/dl Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dl Creatinine clearance greater than 70 ml/min BUN less than 40 mg/dl Other: No major medical illness