Radiation Therapy, Paclitaxel, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Cancer of the Cervix

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically proven previously untreated invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix
• * Squamous cell carcinoma
• * Adenosquamous carcinoma
• * Adenocarcinoma
• TNM classification stage IIIB or IVA (FIGO classification stage IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, or IVA)
• Cytologically or histologically proven metastases to the para-aortic lymph nodes
• No more than 8 weeks since diagnosis
• No metastases to scalene nodes, intraperitoneal metastases, or metastases to other organs outside the radiation field at the time of original clinical and surgical staging
• * Negative CT scan of the chest
• Patients with ureteral obstruction must be treated with stent or nephrostomy tube
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 6 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 no greater than 3 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine less than 2.0 mg/dL
• No renal abnormalities (e.g., pelvic kidney, horseshoe kidney, or renal transplantation) requiring modification of radiation fields
• Other:
• Not pregnant
• No septicemia or severe infection
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 3 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for this or other malignancy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• No prior radiotherapy for this or other malignancy
• No prior radiotherapy to pelvis or abdomen
• Surgery:
• Not specified
• Other:
• No other prior therapy for this malignancy