Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed primary invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix

- Stages IB2, II, IIIB, and IVA disease

- Any cell type

- No known metastasis to scalene nodes or organs outside the radiation field

- No known intraperitoneal metastases

- No evidence of extrapelvic disease based on negative CT or PET scan

- Must enroll within 8 weeks of diagnosis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- Not specified

Performance status

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

- Creatinine normal OR

- Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min

- Prior ureteral obstruction allowed provided stent or nephrostomy tube has been placed

- No renal abnormalities, such as pelvic kidney, horseshoe kidney, or prior renal
transplantation that would require modification of radiation fields

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

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

- No septicemia or severe infection

- No other medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Not specified

Chemotherapy

- No prior chemotherapy for any prior malignancy

- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for this malignancy

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- No prior radiotherapy for any prior malignancy

- No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy for this malignancy

Surgery

- See Patient Characteristics- Renal

Other

- No prior therapy for this malignancy