DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic or unresectable locally advanced (stage IV or recurrent) soft tissue or bone sarcoma

  • Eligible subtypes:

    • Ewing's family (e.g., primitive neuroectodermal tumor)
    • Osteosarcoma
    • Synovial sarcoma
    • Rhabdomyosarcoma (e.g., alveolar, embryonal, or pleomorphic)
    • Liposarcoma (all variants)
    • Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
    • Peripheral nerve sheath (e.g., malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, neurofibrosarcoma, or schwannoma)
    • Fibrosarcoma
    • Angiosarcoma (all variants)
  • Failed standard therapy with no available salvage regimens

• Unidimensionally measurable target lesions by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, PET, or physical examination

  • Must be outside prior irradiation fields or have documented disease progression at least 6 weeks after completion of prior radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 10 and over

Performance status:

• Not specified

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Not specified

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT and AST less than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine less than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for at least 1 week after study participation for female patients and for at least 3 months after study participation for male patients

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy:

• No hormonal birth control

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

• Not specified

Other:

• At least 28 days since any prior systemic therapy