DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed surgical stage III or IV endometrial cancer OR
• Any stage clear or serous papillary endometrial cancer
• Positive para-aortic lymph nodes allowed

• Tumor must be surgically reduced to 2 cm or less within 8 weeks of study

  • Must have had hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
• No recurrent disease
• No metastases to lung or liver parenchyma or inguinal or scalene lymph nodes

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

• Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count greater than 2,000/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal:

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Other:

• No other prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

• Not specified

Radiotherapy:

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

• See Disease Characteristics
• No more than 8 weeks since prior surgery

Other:

• No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study