DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed stage IIC-III primary or locally recurrent soft tissue sarcoma

* Grade 2 or 3 on grade 1-3 scale OR
* Grade 3 or 4 on grade 3-4 scale
* Tumor size at least 8 cm in diameter
* Tumor located on upper extremities (including shoulder), lower extremities (including hip), or on body wall
* No rhabdomyosarcoma, extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumors, osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma, Kaposi's sarcoma or angiosarcoma of the scalp or face, or any sarcoma of the head and neck
* No evidence of lung metastases
* Maximum of 4 chest lesion no greater than 3 mm in diameter each on preoperative chest CT scans

* Lesions no greater than 1 cm in diameter allowed if stable for at least 1 year and fit criteria for granulomas

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 150,000/mm\^3
* No prior bleeding or clotting diathesis

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL
* AST and ALT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal
* PT and PTT less than 1.25 times normal (not on coumadin)

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* LVEF greater than 50%
* History of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring bypass surgery allowed provided surgery occurred at least 1 year prior to study entry
* No uncompensated CAD on electrocardiogram or physical examination
* No myocardial infarction or severe or unstable angina within the past 6 months
* No New York Heart Association class II-IV heart disease
* No congestive heart failure
* No severe peripheral vascular disease
* No peripheral vascular disease with diabetes mellitus
* No deep venous or arterial thrombosis (including pulmonary embolism) within the past 3 months

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Fibrin split products less than 2 times normal
* Fibrinogen greater than 200 mg/dL
* No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
* No known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived proteins
* No contraindications to limb-salvage surgery
* No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except surgically treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or squamous or basal cell skin cancer
* No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior biologic therapy

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* More than 2 weeks since minor surgery
* More than 4 weeks since major surgery