DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma including the following: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma Liposarcoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Synovial sarcoma Malignant paraganglioma Fibrosarcoma Leiomyosarcoma Angiosarcoma including haemangiopericytoma Neurogenic sarcoma Unclassified sarcoma Mixed mesodermal tumor of the uterus Measurable disease with evidence of progression in prior 6 weeks No symptomatic or known CNS metastases