Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or
adenocarcinoma of the cervix

- Stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent disease

- Not amenable to curative surgery and/or radiotherapy

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

- At least 20 mm by palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR at least 10 mm by
spiral CT scan

- Biopsy confirmation required if lesion is less than 30 mm

- Target lesion must be outside of a previously irradiated field

- No craniospinal metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- GOG 0-1

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 normal

- Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal

- AST no greater than 3 times normal

Renal

- Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL OR

- Creatinine > 1.2 mg/dL but < 1.5 mg/dL AND creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min

- No bilateral hydronephrosis not alleviated by ureteral stents or percutaneous
drainage

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

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

- No prior malignancy whose treatment contraindicates the current study therapy

- No concurrent clinically significant infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No concurrent cytokines

Chemotherapy

- At least 6 weeks since prior chemoradiotherapy and recovered

- No prior chemotherapy (except when concurrently administered with radiotherapy)

Endocrine therapy

- Not specified

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- See Chemotherapy

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

- Recovered from prior surgery