DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed primary invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix

  • Stages IB2, II, IIIB, and IVA disease
  • Any cell type
• No known metastasis to scalene nodes or organs outside the radiation field
• No known intraperitoneal metastases
• No evidence of extrapelvic disease based on negative CT or PET scan
• Must enroll within 8 weeks of diagnosis

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Not specified

Performance status

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

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

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine normal OR
• Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min
• Prior ureteral obstruction allowed provided stent or nephrostomy tube has been placed
• No renal abnormalities, such as pelvic kidney, horseshoe kidney, or prior renal transplantation that would require modification of radiation fields

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No septicemia or severe infection
• No other medical or psychiatric condition that would preclude study compliance

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• No prior chemotherapy for any prior malignancy
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for this malignancy

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy for any prior malignancy
• No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy for this malignancy

Surgery

• See Patient Characteristics- Renal

Other

• No prior therapy for this malignancy