EF5 to Evaluate Tumor Hypoxia in Patients With High-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcoma or Mouth Cancer

You may be eligible if

• Histologically confirmed high-grade soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the trunk or extremity or squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity for which surgical biopsy or resection is standard initial therapy
• * Clinical imaging of mass that is likely to be STS or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck allowed if surgery is indicated prior to definitive diagnosis
• Planned resection and standard oncologic treatment
• No known distant metastatic disease
• ECOG 0-2
• WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL
• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• No significant cardiac condition that would preclude study compliance
• Weight no greater than 130 kg
• No grade III or IV peripheral neuropathy
• No other medical condition that would preclude study compliance
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• See Disease Characteristics
• No chemotherapy within 3 months before planned surgery
• Preoperative radiotherapy allowed for STS
• No radiotherapy within 3 months before planned surgery
• No other concurrent investigational agents