Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

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

- Locally advanced disease

- FIGO stage IIB-IVA (any pelvic nodal status) or FIGO stage IB2 and IIA
(with pelvic nodal involvement)

- Measurable disease on MRI scan

- No evidence of common iliac or para-aortic nodal involvement

- No distant metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- WHO performance status 0-1

- Platelet count > 100 x 10^9/L

- White cell count > 3.0 x 10^9/L

- Neutrophil count > 1.5 x 10^9/L

- ALT/AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- Bilirubin < 1.25 times ULN

- EDTA clearance > 55 mL/min

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No prior cancer except skin tumor

- No prior pelvic adhesions, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic inflammatory disease,
or diabetes mellitus

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- No prior pelvic radiotherapy or surgery other than laparoscopic node dissection

- No other concurrent anticancer or investigational therapy