Inclusion Criteria:

- Histologically confirmed endometrial adenocarcinoma

- Recurrent or persistent disease

- Histologic confirmation of the original primary tumor is required

- Not amenable to management with any of the following:

- Surgery

- Radiotherapy

- Higher priority or standard chemotherapy

- Measurable disease

- At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques
(e.g., palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

- At least 1 target lesion

- Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as non-target
lesions

- Disease in an irradiated field as the only site of measurable disease is
acceptable as a target lesion only if there has been clear progression of the
lesion at least 90 days after completion of radiotherapy

- Received 1, and only 1, prior chemotherapy regimen (e.g., high-dose therapy,
consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgery or non-surgical
assessment) for management of endometrial adenocarcinoma

- Ineligible for a higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol (e.g., any
active GOG phase III study for the same patient population)

- Performance status - GOG 0-2

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

- Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

- Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

- AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

- Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

- Sensory or motor neuropathy ≤ grade 1

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No active infection requiring antibiotics

- No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin
cancer

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

- One prior non-cytotoxic* (biologic or cytostatic) regimen for management of recurrent
or persistent disease allowed

- See Disease Characteristics

- Prior paclitaxel or docetaxel allowed

- Recovered from prior chemotherapy

- No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen (either single or combination
drug therapy)

- No prior ixabepilone

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

- Continuation of hormone replacement therapy allowed

- 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 cancer treatment that contraindicates study therapy