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