OBJECTIVES: I. Assess the response to vincristine/ifosfamide/doxorubicin (VID) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support in children with newly diagnosed, inoperable or metastatic non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas. II. Estimate the 2-year and event-free survival rates in children treated with VID plus radiotherapy and/or surgery. III. Establish a bank of frozen tumor and peripheral blood tissue for use in further molecular studies.