Doxorubicin With or Without Ifosfamide and Pegfilgrastim in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcoma * Locally advanced unresectable\* OR metastatic disease * High-grade (grade 2-3) disease according to the FNLCC grading system NOTE: \*Disease that could prove resectable (including pulmonary metastasectomy) after a response to chemotherapy is allowed * The following tumor types are eligible: * Malignant fibrous histiocytoma * Myxoid and round cell liposarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, or dedifferentiated liposarcoma * Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma * Synovial sarcoma * Myxofibrosarcoma, intermediate and high-grade * Fibrosarcoma * Leiomyosarcoma * Angiosarcoma * Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor * Epithelioid sarcoma * Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma * Unclassifiable sarcoma, not otherwise specified * The following tumor types are not eligible: * Gastrointestinal stromal tumor * Mixed mesodermal tumor * Chondrosarcoma * Malignant mesothelioma * Neuroblastoma * Osteosarcoma * Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor * Desmoplastic small round cell tumor * Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma * Alveolar soft part sarcoma * Must have a measurable lesion with clinical evidence of progression within the past 6 weeks * Osseous lesions and pleural effusions are not considered measurable * No known or symptomatic CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 to 60 Performance status * WHO 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute ne…