A PHASE II STUDY OF NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION THERAPY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-RISK, HIGH-GRADE, SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS OF THE EXTREMITIES AND BODY WALL

Inclusion Criteria

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