Radiation Therapy With or Without Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Cancer of the Vulva

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage I, II, III, or IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva amenable to curative treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, or both
• * At least 1 positive inguinal and/or femoral lymph node
• * No inoperable (fixed or ulcerating) groin nodes
• * Must not require resection of urethra or anal sphincter to achieve negative margins
• Must have undergone vulvar biopsy and bilateral inguinal/femoral lymph node dissection within 8 weeks of randomization
• No metastatic disease
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Any age
• Performance status:
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,000/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
• SGOT no greater than 3 times normal
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL
• Other:
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No other prior invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No more than 8 weeks since prior surgery
• Other:
• No prior therapy for another malignancy that would preclude study