OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized into one of 3 arms (continuous ifosfamide, ifosfamide daily for 3 days, or doxorubicin). Patients are stratified by performance status (0 vs 1), liver involvement (no vs yes), histological type (leiomyosarcoma vs synovial sarcoma vs other), and histological grade (1 vs 2 vs 3). Arm I: Patients receive doxorubicin by bolus infusion for 5-20 minutes once every 3 weeks. Arm II: Patients receive ifosfamide by intravenous infusion for 4 hours on days 1, 2, and 3 every three weeks. Arm III: Patients receive ifosfamide by intravenous infusion for 72 hours every 3 weeks. Patients are assessed after every 2 courses of therapy. Each course of therapy consists of 3 weeks of treatment. Patients may receive a maximum of 6 courses of therapy in the absence of toxicity and disease progression. Patients are followed every 12 weeks for survival.