Comparison of Combination Chemotherapy Regimens in Treating Patients With Ewing's Sarcoma or Neuroectodermal Tumor

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed localized Ewing's sarcoma or peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the bone or soft tissues

* Diagnostic biopsy of primary tumor within 30 days of study
* Paraspinal or bony skull tumors of extradural origin allowed

* No intradural soft tissue tumors
* Askin's tumor of the chest wall allowed

* Chest wall tumors with ipsilateral pleural effusions or ipsilateral pleural-based secondary tumor nodules allowed
* No contralateral pleural effusions
* No metastatic disease or distant node involvement

* One pulmonary or pleural nodule greater than 1 cm in diameter OR more than 1 nodule greater than 0.5 cm in diameter are considered pulmonary metastasis
* Solitary lung nodules of 0.5-1 cm OR multiple nodules of 0.3-0.5 cm allowed unless biopsy positive for tumor
* Light microscopic appearance (hematoxylin and eosin stained) consistent with Ewing's sarcoma or peripheral PNET
* No immunohistochemical or ultrastructural evidence of rhabdomyosarcoma
* No esthesioneuroblastoma
* Clinically or pathologically involved regional lymph nodes allowed
* No CNS involvement

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 50 and under at diagnosis

Performance status:

* Not specified

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Not specified

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Renal:

* Creatinine normal for age
* Creatinine clearance or isotope glomerular filtration rate at least 75 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* Shortening fraction at least 28% by echocardiography OR
* Ejection fraction at least 55% by radionuclide angiogram

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No other prior malignancy except skin cancer diagnosed at least 5 years ago and currently in remission

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* No prior immunotherapy for skin cancer
* No concurrent sargramostim (GM-CSF)
* No concurrent pegfilgrastim

Chemotherapy:

* No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

* Not specified

Radiotherapy:

* No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

* Prior complete or partial excision of primary tumor allowed