Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Newly diagnosed sporadic or neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)-associated high-grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs)

  * Stage III or stage IV (metastatic) disease
* Measurable disease, defined as at least 1 tumor that is measurable in 2 dimensions on CT scan or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA
* Serum creatinine normal for age OR creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min
* SGPT \< 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* Bilirubin \< 2.5 times ULN
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3\*
* Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL\*
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3\*
* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment NOTE: \* Unsupported

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* No prior chemotherapy for MPNST
* Prior surgical resection of MPNST allowed provided residual or recurrent measurable disease is present
* Recovered from toxic effects of all prior therapy
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy or biologic therapy for treatment of a plexiform neurofibroma, optical pathway tumor, or other NF1-associated tumor (in patients with NF1)
* At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy for treatment of a plexiform neurofibroma, optical pathway tumor, or other NF1-associated tumor (in patients with NF1)
* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the area involved by MPNST
* No other concurrent growth factors (e.g., sargramostim \[GM-CSF\] or interleukin-11)

  * Concurrent epoetin alfa allowed