Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed Kaposi's sarcoma requiring chemotherapy and/or currently being treated with paclitaxel * Serologic diagnosis of HIV infection documented by a positive ELISA and confirmed with a Western Blot or other federally approved HIV diagnostic test PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,000/mm \^3(with or without the use of colony-stimulating factors) * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min Neurologic: * No greater than grade 2 peripheral neuropathy * No neuropsychiatric history or altered mental status that would preclude study Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except curatively treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * No sensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins * No active untreated infection * No new infectious complications requiring a change in antibiotics within the past 2 weeks PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy…