DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or unresectable soft tissue sarcoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumor Measurable disease defined as lesions that can be measured in at least one dimension as at least 20 mm with conventional techniques or at least 10 mm with spiral CT scan Must have received prior chemotherapy with no response or progression after initial response Evidence of disease progression in past 3 months No CNS metastases or primary brain tumors

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 2,000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Fibrin split products no greater than 0.001 mg Fibrinogen greater than 200 mg/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST/ALT less than 1.5 times ULN PT/PTT less than 1.25 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: At least 1 year since bypass surgery for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease No uncompensated coronary artery disease No history of myocardial infarction or unstable/severe angina in past 6 months No severe peripheral vascular disease No history of deep venous or arterial thrombosis in past 3 months Pulmonary: No history of pulmonary embolism in past 3 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No diabetes mellitus No history of bleeding diathesis No known active retroviral disease No AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma No history of allergic reaction to Cremophor or paclitaxel No uncontrolled illness or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks since mitomycin or nitrosoureas) No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: Greater than 2 weeks since prior minor surgery (greater than 4 weeks since major surgery) Other: No concurrent antiinflammatory drugs