Radiation Therapy With or Without SU5416 in Treating Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed primary or locally recurrent stage IB or IIA soft tissue sarcoma * Grade 1 or 2 * Tumor greater than 5 cm in diameter * Tumor located on upper extremities (including shoulder), lower extremities (including hip), or body wall * No sarcoma of the head and neck or intra-abdominal or retroperitoneal sarcoma * No desmoid tumor or dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans * No metastatic disease * No evidence of lung metastases * Maximum of 4 lung lesions no greater than 5 mm in diameter each on preoperative chest CT scan allowed OR * Lesion no greater than 1 cm allowed if stable for at least 1 year and fits criteria for granuloma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy: * At least 2 years Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 4,000/mm\^3 OR * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,800/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * SGOT no greater than 50 U/L * PT and PTT less than 1.25 times normal (not on warfarin) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: * No congestive heart failure or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No uncompensated coronary artery disease * No severe peripheral vascular disease * No peripheral vascular disease with diabetes mellitus * No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months * Fibrin split products less than 2 times normal * Fibrinogen greater than 200 mg/dL Pulmonary: * No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No contraindications to surgery * No active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection * No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except surgically treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or squamous cell or basal cell skin cancer * No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude informed consent PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No prior biologic therapy for soft tissue sarcoma Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * No prior radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma Surgery: * At least 2 weeks since prior minor surgery (e.g., port placement) * At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery