Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma

- FIGO stage III or IV or recurrent disease

- Must know estrogen and progesterone status of the primary tumor

- Poor potential for curative treatment by radiotherapy and/or surgery

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion (for patients with stage III disease
only)

- At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., palpation, plain x-ray, CT
scan, or MRI) OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- Disease in a previously irradiated field acceptable as the only site of
measurable disease only if there has been clear progression since completion of
radiotherapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

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

Hepatic

- Bilirubin normal

- ALT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

- LVEF at least 50%

- Cardiac conduction abnormalities or dysfunction allowed at the investigator's
discretion

- No third-degree or complete heart block without a pacemaker

- No uncontrolled angina

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No New York Heart Association class II -IV heart failure

- No symptoms of congestive heart failure

Other

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Fertile patients must use effective non-hormonal contraception during and for at
least 2 months after study participation

- No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except patients who have
nonmelanoma skin cancer or have received prior chemotherapy for that malignancy

- No serious uncontrolled infection

- No serious peripheral neuropathy

- No other concurrent medical illness that would preclude study therapy

- No circumstances that would preclude study completion or follow-up

- No sensitivity to Escherichia coli-derived drug preparations

- No uterine carcinosarcoma or other non-epithelial uterine malignancy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- Prior biologic therapy allowed

- No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

- No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (including radiotherapy sensitization) for this or
any other malignancy

Endocrine therapy

- Prior hormonal therapy allowed

- No concurrent hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy to the whole pelvis or over 50% of the
spine

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

- Not specified

Other

- Concurrent medications that alter cardiac conduction (e.g., digitalis, beta blockers,
or calcium channel blockers) are allowed at the investigator's discretion