RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining more than one chemotherapy drug with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy in treating children who have advanced soft tissue sarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the response to vincristine/ifosfamide/doxorubicin (VID) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in children with newly diagnosed, inoperable or metastatic non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas. II. Estimate the 2-year and event-free survival rates in children treated with VID plus radiotherapy and/or surgery. III. Establish a bank of frozen tumor and peripheral blood tissue for use in further molecular studies.

OUTLINE: The following acronyms are used: DOX Doxorubicin, NSC-123127 G-CSF Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (Amgen), NSC-614629 IFF Ifosfamide, NSC-109724 Mesna Mercaptoethane sulfonate, NSC-113891 VCR Vincristine, NSC-67574 VID VCR/IFF/DOX Induction: 3-Drug Combination Chemotherapy. VID. Local Control: Surgery and/or Radiotherapy plus 3-Drug Combination Chemotherapy. Excision of the primary tumor and pulmonary metastases; and/or irradiation of the primary tumor and pulmonary metastases using x-rays or Co60 beam energies of at least 4 MV (electrons or iridium-192 implant allowed for boost); plus VID. Continuation: 3-Drug Combination Chemotherapy. VID.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 40 patients will be entered over 2.7 years if there are at least 7 responses in the first 20 patients.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy proven non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRSTS) Evaluable residual tumor after initial biopsy or excision required Registration required within 42 days of definitive diagnosis Grade II/III, unresectable or metastatic disease The following histologies exclude: Angiofibroma of the nasopharynx Mesothelioma Desmoid tumor Peripheral neuroepithelioma Desmoplastic small cell tumor Rhabdomyosarcoma Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma Undifferentiated sarcoma Kaposi's sarcoma Grade 1 NRSTS, including: Angiomatoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans Myxoid and well-differentiated liposarcoma Well-differentiated and infantile hemangiopericytoma Well-differentiated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 21 and under Performance status: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine normal for age No hydronephrosis Cardiovascular: Shortening fraction greater than 28% Other: No HIV infection Not pregnant or nursing Effective contraception required of fertile women

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy No prior nephrectomy (surgical correction of hydronephrosis allowed)