DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity or the body wall that is a primary or a postoperatively recurrent tumor Biopsy required within 2 months prior to entry Grade II or III tumor, including AJCC stages IIB and IIIB lesions at least 8 cm in diameter No more than 4 chest lesions that are no greater than 3 mm in diameter on preoperative CT The following histologies are excluded: Angiosarcoma of the scalp or face Chondrosarcoma Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma Head and neck sarcoma Kaposi's sarcoma Osteosarcoma Primitive neuroectodermal tumor Rhabdomyosarcoma Patients on this study are also eligible for Frozen Tumor Repository study (protocol RTOG-9308)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 80%-100% Hematopoietic: WBC at least 4,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 150,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT no greater than 50 U Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure (CHF) within 6 months No myocardial infarction (MI) within 6 months No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease Left ventricular ejection fraction at least 50% by MUGA or echocardiogram If history of CHF or MI, criterion must be met within past 6 months Other: No contraindication to surgery No uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection No serious medical or psychiatric illness that precludes informed consent or limits survival to less than 2 years No second malignancy within 5 years except: Surgically treated in situ cervical cancer Nonmelanomatous skin cancer Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women within 7 days prior to entry Effective contraception required of all fertile patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics