Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma

- Recurrent or persistent (refractory to curative therapy or established
treatment)

- No sarcomas

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

- At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT
scan, or MRI

- At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- At least 1 target lesion outside the area of prior radiotherapy

- Received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for endometrial carcinoma

- Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended
therapy

- No more than 1 additional cytotoxic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease

- No non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease

- Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocols (any active GOG phase III protocol for
the same patient population)

- No documented brain metastases since diagnosis of cancer

- Patients with stable CNS deficits allowed provided there are no brain
metastases, as confirmed by CT scan or MRI

- Performance status - GOG 0-2 if patient received 1 prior regimen

- Performance status - GOG 0-1 if patient received 2 prior regimens

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

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

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

- SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

- Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

- Not pregnant

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception for 4 weeks before,
during, and for 4 weeks after study participation

- No active infection requiring antibiotics

- No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1

- No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer

- No documented seizure disorders since diagnosis of cancer

- Patients with a history of seizure disorders allowed provided that the seizures
have been stable (i.e., no seizure within the past 12 months) while on an
appropriately monitored treatment regimen

- At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents directed at malignancy

- No prior thalidomide

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered

- At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignancy

- Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered

- No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas

- Recovered from prior surgery

- At least 3 weeks since any other prior therapy directed at malignancy

- No prior cancer therapy that would preclude study participation

- No concurrent bisphosphonates (e.g., zoledronate)