S9624 Ifosfamide in Treating Patients With Meningeal Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven recurrent or unresectable: * Malignant meningioma * Intracranial hemangiopericytoma * Primary central nervous system sarcoma, including: * Fibrosarcoma * Rhabdomyosarcoma * Chondrosarcoma * Leiomyosarcoma * Measurable or evaluable disease on CT or MRI scan * Persistent disease following biopsy or incomplete resection OR * Recurrent disease following complete resection * No benign meningioma * No prior or current systemic sarcoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * SWOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Not specified Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months * No active angina * No unstable heart rhythms * No congestive heart failure Other: * HIV negative * No allergy to study drugs * No serious concurrent medical or psychiatric illness * No uncontrolled peptic ulcer disease * No prior malignancy within past 5 years except adequately treated: * Basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin * Carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Not pregnant or nursing * Effective contraception required of fertile patients PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Recovered from toxic effects of prior therapy and/or from postoperative complications Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior ifosfamide * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * No concurrent hormonal therapy (except estrogen replacement therapy) * Corticosteroids allowed if dose is stable or decreasing Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * Progressive disease following radiation required * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics