Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed stage III or IV, refractory, or recurrent heterologous or
homologous carcinosarcoma (mixed mesodermal tumors) of the uterus

- Must not be amenable to curative-intent therapy

- Must have measurable disease consisting of abdominal, pelvic, chest or other masses
that can be defined in at least 2 dimensions by palpation, x-ray, MRI, computed
tomography or ultrasound

- If measured by MRI, computed tomography or ultrasound, the lesion must have a
minimal tumor measurement of 1 cm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

- Albumin at least 3 g/dL

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal

- SGOT no greater than 3 times normal

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

- No history of congestive heart failure

- No unstable angina

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

Other:

- No septicemia

- No severe infection

- No acute hepatitis

- No gastrointestinal bleeding

- At least 5 years since any other invasive malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy for carcinosarcoma of the uterus

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 6 weeks since radiotherapy for current malignancy

- At least 3 months since radiotherapy if delivered to site of measurable disease

Surgery:

- Not specified