DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, including adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction Evaluable disease No CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin normal AST or ALT less than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if documented liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular: LVEF normal No history of New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease with congestive heart failure No unstable cardiovascular disease Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other prior primary cancer within the past 5 years except curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix No hypersensitivity to anthracycline therapy No history of severe hypersensitivity reactions to products containing Chremophor EL (e.g., cyclosporine or teniposide for injection concentrate) No other significant medical disorder (e.g., active uncontrolled infection) that would preclude study treatment

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to less than 1/3 of hematopoietic sites and recovered Surgery: Not specified Other: At least 30 days since other prior investigational agents