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)