DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed primary homologous or heterologous carcinosarcoma of the uterus (corpus and cervix)
• Surgical stage I-IV disease, including positive adnexa, tumor invading the serosa, positive pelvic and/or para-aortic nodes, involvement of the mucosa of the bowel, bladder, or rectum, intra-abdominal metastases, positive pelvic washings, or vaginal involvement within planned radiation port

• Prior total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and maximum tumor resection of all gross intra-abdominal/pelvic disease, including grossly involved pelvic and para-aortic nodes within 8 weeks before study

  • No greater than 1 cm residual disease
• Cervical sarcomas also allowed

• No metastasis beyond the abdominal cavity at diagnosis, including the following:

  • Parenchymal liver metastasis
  • Lung metastasis
  • Positive inguinal lymph nodes
  • Positive scalene nodes
  • Radiographic or pathologic evidence of bone or brain metastasis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 21 and over

Performance status:

• GOG 0-2

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 3,000/mm3
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
• SGOT no greater than 3 times normal
• Albumin at least 3 g/dL
• No acute hepatitis

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min

Other:

• No septicemia
• No severe infection
• No severe gastrointestinal bleeding
• No prior invasive or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Prior hormonal therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics

Other:

• No prior therapy that would preclude study therapy