DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma of the cervix

  • Stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent disease
• Not amenable to curative surgery and/or radiotherapy

• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

  • At least 20 mm by palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Biopsy confirmation required if lesion is less than 30 mm
  • Target lesion must be outside of a previously irradiated field
• No craniospinal metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• GOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

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
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal
• AST no greater than 3 times normal

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL OR
• Creatinine > 1.2 mg/dL but < 1.5 mg/dL AND creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
• No bilateral hydronephrosis not alleviated by ureteral stents or percutaneous drainage

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No prior malignancy whose treatment contraindicates the current study therapy
• No concurrent clinically significant infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• No concurrent cytokines

Chemotherapy

• At least 6 weeks since prior chemoradiotherapy and recovered
• No prior chemotherapy (except when concurrently administered with radiotherapy)

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• See Chemotherapy
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

• Recovered from prior surgery