DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed primary or locally recurrent stage IB or IIA soft tissue sarcoma

* Grade 1 or 2
* Tumor greater than 5 cm in diameter
* Tumor located on upper extremities (including shoulder), lower extremities (including hip), or body wall
* No sarcoma of the head and neck or intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal sarcoma
* No desmoid tumor or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
* No metastatic disease
* No evidence of lung metastases

* Maximum of 4 lung lesions no greater than 5 mm in diameter each on preoperative chest CT scan allowed OR
* Lesion no greater than 1 cm allowed if stable for at least 1 year and fits criteria for granuloma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Zubrod 0-1

Life expectancy:

* At least 2 years

Hematopoietic:

* WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3 OR
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,800/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
* SGOT no greater than 50 U/L
* PT and PTT less than 1.25 times normal (not on warfarin)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No uncompensated coronary artery disease
* No severe peripheral vascular disease
* No peripheral vascular disease with diabetes mellitus
* No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months
* Fibrin split products less than 2 times normal
* Fibrinogen greater than 200 mg/dL

Pulmonary:

* No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No contraindications to surgery
* No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
* No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except surgically treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer
* No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude informed consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior biologic therapy for soft tissue sarcoma

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma

Surgery:

* At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery (e.g., port placement)
* At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery