Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Angiosarcoma or Lymphangiosarcoma That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed soft tissue angiosarcoma or lymphangiosarcoma * Locally advanced or metastatic disease * Unresectable disease * Angiosarcomas in previously irradiated areas allowed provided disease is clearly progressive * Measurable disease * No Kaposi's sarcoma PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 to 70 Performance status * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count \> 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count \> 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin \< 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT and SGPT \< 2.5 times ULN * No severe liver failure Renal * Creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * No severe kidney failure Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 50% Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No weight loss ≥ 20% of body weight prior to illness * Patient must be amenable to receiving care during the day * No HIV positivity * No clinical neuropathy * No known allergy to study drug or to any of its components (e.g., Cremophor EL) * No other progressive malignant tumor * No chronic illness (somatic or psychiatric) that would preclude study compliance and follow-up * No psychological, geographical, or social reason that would preclude study follow-up PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No more than 2 prior courses of chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * Not specified Other * No other concurrent anticancer therapy * No concurrent participation in another therapeutic investigational study