DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of metastatic or unresectable carcinoma of the stomach
• Measurable disease
• No brain metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Over 18

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 70-100%

Life expectancy:

• More than 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL
• No history of any bleeding disorders

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Transaminases no greater than 2 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min

Other:

• No history of peptic ulceration or gastrointestinal bleeding
• No active infection
• No seizure disorder
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• HIV negative
• No other serious concurrent illness that would preclude study entry
• No medical, social, or psychological factors that would preclude study entry

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
• Prior incomplete resection allowed

Other:

• No other prior antitumor treatment