DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed advanced endometrial carcinoma with any histology, including:

  • Clear cell and serous papillary carcinoma

• Surgical stage III disease, including:

  • Positive adnexa
  • Tumor invading the serosa
  • Positive pelvic and/or paraaortic nodes
  • Involvement of bowel mucosa
  • Intraabdominal metastases
  • Positive pelvic washings
  • Vaginal involvement within the radiation port

• Must have had prior surgery, including hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

  • Tumor maximally debulked to a maximum residual diameter of no greater than 2 cm

  • Paraaortic lymph node sampling allowed

    • If positive, must have negative chest CT scan
• No recurrent disease
• No parenchymal liver metastases
• No disease outside the abdomen

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• Not specified

Performance status:

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• At least 3 months

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
• SGOT/SGPT no greater than 3 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL

Cardiovascular:

• LVEF at least 50% within 6 months of study entry

Other:

• No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No serious comorbid illness that would preclude study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy for prior malignancy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics