Post-Operative Chemoradiation for Extremity & Trunk Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Doxorubicin is a drug that is commonly used to treat certain kinds of cancer. The radiation treatment and chemotherapy will start around 4-6 weeks after surgery. During the study, you will receive radiation treatments 5 days a week for 6 - 61/2 weeks. On Day 1 of each week of radiation therapy, you will be given doxorubicin through a continuous injection into a vein for 4 days in a row. A special tube is placed into a large vein in the neck or chest region or through a large vein in the arm. This is called a central venous line. A small pump is then used to give the drug. This pump is about the size of a pack of cigarettes. You will receive appropriate instructions for the maintenance of the pump. The doxorubicin and radiotherapy will be given on an outpatient basis at M. D. Anderson. If the disease gets worse or you experience any intolerable side effects, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy may be stopped and you may be taken off the study. At that time, your doctor will discuss other treatment options with you. Before the start of each week of treatment, you will have a physical exam and blood tests (around 2 tablespoons). You will also have a MRI to check on the status of the disease. After the study, you will have follow-up visits at M. D. Anderson every 3-4 months for the first 2 years after the study then every 6 months for the next 3 years. After that you will have follow-up visits once a year for the rest of your life to check on the status of the disease. At every follow-up visit you will have ultrasound scans. You will have a MRI at the first follow-up visit then only when the doctor feels it is necessary. This is an investigational study. Doxorubicin is FDA approved and is commercially available. Up to 30 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.