Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

- Advanced disease (stage IVB)

- Persistent or recurrent disease

- No available curative treatment options

- Measurable disease by physical examination, chest x-ray, CT scan, or MRI

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- Over 18

Performance status

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

- More than 6 months

Hematopoietic

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

- Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin > 8 g/dL

Hepatic

- Bilirubin normal

- SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND alkaline phosphatase normal
OR

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 4 times ULN AND SGOT and SGPT normal

Renal

- Creatinine < 1.5 times ULN

Other

- No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years

- No prior severe hypersensitivity reaction to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with
polysorbate 80

- No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1

- No other concurrent malignancy except curatively treated non-melanoma skin cancer

- No other serious medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude giving informed
consent or limit survival

- Not pregnant

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study
participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- No concurrent biologic therapy

Chemotherapy

- No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens

- One sensitizing chemotherapy regimen during radiotherapy AND 1 regimen for
recurrent disease are considered 2 regimens

- At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy

- No prior docetaxel

- No prior carboplatin

- No other concurrent chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy

- At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy

- See Chemotherapy

- At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No concurrent radiotherapy

Surgery

- At least 3 weeks since prior major surgery