Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically established metastatic (N+ or M1 = stage IV) or non-resectable soft
tissue sarcoma·

- Grading II/III (Guillou et al. J Clin Oncol 1997)

- At least 1 measurable tumor parameter according to RECIST criteria

- Evidence of progression or primary manifestation (except osseous metastases and
pleural effusion)

- No previous radiation therapy of the only measurable lesion

- No previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease; previous adjuvant chemotherapy is
permitted if there was no progression of the disease within a period of 6 months

- Patients aged 60 years and beyond

- Written patient informed consent

- ECOG Status 0-2

- Granulocytes >= 2 x 10**9/l and thrombocytes >= 100 x 10**/l

- Serum creatinine, bilirubin < 1.5 times the upper limit of normal value, albumin > 25
g/l

- No severe comorbidity including psychosis or any previous history of uncontrolled
cardiovascular disease

- Normal left-ventricular function by echocardiography or MUGA scan

- No symptomatic CNS metastases

- Willingness to receive regular follow-up examinations

Exclusion Criteria:

- Histological grading of malignancy: G I

- Histology of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, chondrosarcoma, uterine stromal sarcoma,
mesothelioma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing´s sarcoma/PNET, desmoplastic round
cell tumor, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar soft tissue sarcoma

- Less than 5 years free of secondary malignancy except adequately treated carcinoma in
situ (CIS) of the cervix, the bladder urothelium, basal cell carcinoma, or adenoma of
the colon including pTIS, pTIN