DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), undifferentiated sarcoma, or ectomesenchymoma, meeting criteria for 1 of the following:

  • High-risk disease

    • Distant metastases (stage 4, group IV)

  • Intermediate-risk disease

    • Nonmetastatic undifferentiated sarcoma OR alveolar RMS OR ectomesenchymoma with alveolar features (regardless of age, site, size, stage, or degree of initial surgical resection)
    • Stage 2 or 3, group III embryonal RMS OR ectomesenchymoma with embryonal features

• Newly diagnosed

  • Previously untreated
• Biopsy or definitive surgery required within the past 42 days

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 30 and under at diagnosis

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3*
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL*
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3* NOTE: *Unless there is bone marrow infiltration by tumor or presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation

Hepatic

• Bilirubin < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)*
• SGOT and SGPT < 2.5 times ULN* NOTE: *Unless there is hepatic involvement by tumor

Renal

• Creatinine normal for age OR
• Creatinine clearance or nuclear glomerular filtration rate at least 80 mL/min (in the absence of obstructive hydronephrosis)

Cardiovascular

• Shortening fraction ≥ 28% by echocardiogram OR
• LVEF ≥ 50% by MUGA

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

• Prior steroids allowed

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy, except limited, emergent radiotherapy (e.g., treatment of threatened airway or spinal cord compromise)

Surgery

• See Disease Characteristics