Soblidotin in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed soft tissue sarcoma of 1 of the following tumor types: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma Liposarcoma Rhabdomyosarcoma Synovial sarcoma Malignant paraganglioma Fibrosarcoma Leiomyosarcoma Angiosarcoma, including hemangiopericytoma Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor Unclassified sarcoma Miscellaneous sarcoma, including mixed mesodermal tumors of the uterus The following tumor types are not eligible: Gastrointestinal stromal tumor Chondrosarcoma Malignant mesothelioma Neuroblastoma Osteosarcoma Ewing's sarcoma Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma Evidence of disease progression Must have received 1 prior anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease Adjuvant chemotherapy is not considered 1 prior regimen unless tumor progressed within 12 months of therapy At least 1 measurable lesion with indicator lesions outside of any prior radiation field No symptomatic brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 15 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (5 times ULN if liver metastases are present) Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN Cardiovascular Ejection fraction at least 40% by MUGA Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No baseline neurotoxicity grade 2 or greater No concurrent serious infection No psychiatric disorder that would preclude giving informed consent or complying with study requirements No other concurrent severe or uncontrolled medical illness that would preclude study participation No other malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or any other malignancy for which the patient has been in complete remission and off all therapy for at least 5 years PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No concurrent anticancer biologic therapy Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Localized radiotherapy to a non-indicator lesion for pain relief allowed provided all other methods of pain control are ineffective Surgery At least 4 weeks since prior major surgery and recovered Other At least 4 weeks since prior myelosuppressive therapy At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs No other concurrent investigational drugs No other concurrent anticancer cytotoxic therapy