Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically confirmed uterine carcinosarcoma

- Malignant mixed Mullerian tumor, homologous or heterologous type

- Persistent or recurrent disease

- Progressive disease after prior local therapy

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion at least 20 mm by conventional
techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- Presence of at least 1 target lesion (to be used to assess response)

- Tumors within a previously irradiated field are considered non-target lesions

- Received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for carcinosarcoma

- Initial treatment may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation, or
extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment

- One additional prior cytotoxic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease
allowed

- Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol

- No clinically apparent CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis

- Performance status - GOG 0-2 (for patients who have received 1 prior regimen)

- Performance status - GOG 0-1 (for patients who have 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

- No deep venous or arterial thrombosis within the past 6 weeks

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No congestive heart failure requiring therapy

- No pulmonary embolism within the past 6 weeks

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception during and for 3 months
after study participation

- No history of seizures

- No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1

- No signs or symptoms of bowel dysfunction or obstruction

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

- No active or uncontrolled infection requiring antibiotics

- No other concurrent severe disease that would preclude study participation

- At least 3 weeks since prior immunologic agents directed at the malignant tumor

- No concurrent biologic agents directed at the malignant tumor

- No concurrent prophylactic growth factors

- No concurrent prophylactic thrombopoietic agents

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior chemotherapy

- No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease

- No concurrent chemotherapy directed at the malignant tumor

- At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor

- Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

- No concurrent therapeutic corticosteroids

- See Disease Characteristics

- Recovered from prior radiotherapy

- Recovered from prior surgery

- At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor

- No prior imatinib mesylate

- No prior cancer treatment that would contraindicate study therapy

- No concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin

- No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents

- No concurrent phenytoin, phenobarbital, or carbamazepine

- No other concurrent therapy directed at the malignant tumor

- No other concurrent investigational drugs