Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer
that is not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy Measurable disease Tumor at least
1.0 cm by 1.0 cm per x-ray or physical exam OR Tumor at least 2.0 cm by 2.0 cm per CT
scan, MRI, or ultrasound

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy:
Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 No
history of porphyria Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal SGOT no greater
than 3 times normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine
no greater than 2 mg/dL Other: No concurrent or prior malignancy within past 5 years
(except nonmelanoma skin cancer) or for which patient received chemotherapy Not pregnant
or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception Must have tissue available
for estrogen receptor/ progesterone receptor analysis

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior
radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered