<br>        DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:<br><br>          -  Histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcoma<br><br>               -  Advanced and/or metastatic disease<br><br>               -  Must be of any of the following types:<br><br>                    -  Malignant fibrous histiocytoma<br><br>                    -  Liposarcoma (excluding lipomas and well-differentiated liposarcomas)<br><br>                    -  Rhabdomyosarcoma<br><br>                    -  Synovial sarcoma<br><br>                    -  Malignant paraganglioma<br><br>                    -  Fibrosarcoma<br><br>                    -  Leiomyosarcoma<br><br>                    -  Angiosarcoma<br><br>                    -  Neurogenic sarcoma<br><br>                    -  Sarcoma not otherwise specified<br><br>               -  Paraffin blocks and slides must be available<br><br>          -  Measurable disease<br><br>               -  Osseous lesions and pleural effusions are not considered measurable disease<br><br>          -  Evidence of progressive disease within the past 6 weeks<br><br>          -  The following conditions are excluded:<br><br>               -  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors<br><br>               -  Malignant mesothelioma<br><br>               -  Chondrosarcoma<br><br>               -  Neuroblastoma<br><br>               -  Osteosarcoma<br><br>               -  Ewing's sarcoma<br><br>               -  Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma<br><br>          -  No symptomatic or known CNS metastases<br><br>        PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:<br><br>        Age:<br><br>          -  18 to 70<br><br>        Performance status:<br><br>          -  WHO 0-1<br><br>        Life expectancy:<br><br>          -  Not specified<br><br>        Hematopoietic:<br><br>          -  WBC at least 4,000/mm^3<br><br>          -  Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3<br><br>        Hepatic:<br><br>          -  Bilirubin no greater than 1.75 mg/dL<br><br>          -  Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL<br><br>        Renal:<br><br>          -  Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL<br><br>          -  Creatinine clearance at least 65 mL/min<br><br>        Cardiovascular:<br><br>          -  Ejection fraction at least 50% by echocardiogram or isotopic methods<br><br>          -  No history of cardiovascular disease<br><br>        Other:<br><br>          -  No other prior or concurrent primary malignancies except adequately treated carcinoma<br>             in situ of the cervix or basal cell carcinoma<br><br>          -  No other severe medical illness<br><br>          -  No psychosis<br><br>          -  No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would<br>             preclude study participation<br><br>          -  Not pregnant<br><br>          -  Fertile patients must use effective contraception (barrier method for men) during and<br>             for 6 months after study participation<br><br>        PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:<br><br>        Biologic therapy:<br><br>          -  Not specified<br><br>        Chemotherapy:<br><br>          -  No prior chemotherapy for advanced disease<br><br>          -  No other concurrent systemic chemotherapy for malignancy<br><br>        Endocrine therapy:<br><br>          -  Not specified<br><br>        Radiotherapy:<br><br>          -  No prior radiotherapy to sole indicator lesion<br><br>          -  Concurrent radiotherapy allowed except to sole indicator lesion<br><br>        Surgery:<br><br>          -  Not specified<br><br>        Other:<br><br>          -  No other concurrent investigational drugs<br>