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 neutrophil count at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin no greater than 1.8 mg/dL * Albumin at least 2.5 g/dL Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance greater than 65 mL/min Cardiovascular * No history of cardiovascular disease Other * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other severe medical illness * No psychosis * No other prior or concurrent malignancy except adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix or basal cell skin cancer * No psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition that would preclude study compliance and follow-up schedule PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic disease * Prior adjuvant chemotherapy allowed provided there was no disease progression within 6 months after completion of treatment Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to the sole index lesion Surgery * Not specified