PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Neutrophil count at least 1,900/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Hepatic: Adequate hepatic function Renal: BUN no greater than 25 mg/dL Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Less than 5% weight loss Able to receive induction chemotherapy No second malignancy within the past 5 years except skin cancer Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception