Chemotherapy, Irradiation, and Surgery for Function-Preserving Curative Therapy of Primary Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Initial Treatment With I-MAP and GM-CSF; Aerosol GM-CSF During Preoperative Irradiation and Postoperatively

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. GM-CSF may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. GM-CSF, given by inhalation, may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and prevent metastases from forming. Radiation therapy uses high energy x rays to kill tumor cells. Giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy and GM-CSF before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving these treatments after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving combination chemotherapy together with radiation therapy and GM-CSF before and after surgery works in treating patients with stage III soft tissue sarcoma that can be removed by surgery.