Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed endometrial cancer including 1 of the following subtypes:

- Clear cell carcinoma

- Serous papillary carcinoma

- Endometrioid adenocarcinoma

- Stage III or IV disease

- Positive adnexa

- Metastases to serosa, bowel mucosa, abdomen

- Positive pelvic or paraaortic nodes

- Positive pelvic washings or vaginal involvement within the radiation port

- Tumor must be surgically reduced to 2 cm or less within 8 weeks of study entry

- Must have had a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy

- No recurrent disease

- No distant metastases outside of abdominopelvic area, including:

- Parenchymal liver metastases

- Lung metastases

- Positive inguinal lymph nodes

- Positive supraclavicular nodes

- Pleural effusion with malignant cytology

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than ULN

Cardiovascular:

- Cardiac ejection fraction greater than 50%

Other:

- No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma
skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- Not specified

Chemotherapy:

- No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy for other prior malignancy

Surgery:

- See Disease Characteristics