Combination Chemotherapy Compared With Hormone Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Stage III, or Stage IV Endometrial Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed primary stage III or IV or recurrent endometrial cancer
• Poor curative potential with radiotherapy or surgery (alone or in combination)
• Measurable disease
• * At least one lesion accurately measured in at least one dimension
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR
• * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * Disease in a previously irradiated field as sole site of measurable disease allowed only if clear progression after completion of radiotherapy
• Estrogen receptor(ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) status of primary tumor required
• * ER/PR status of measurable tumor optional
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin normal
• SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• LVEF at least 50%
• No third-degree or complete heart block, unless pacemaker is in place
• Other conduction abnormalities or cardiac dysfunction allowed at the investigator's discretion
• No history of deep venous thrombosis
• No uncontrolled angina
• Pulmonary:
• No history of pulmonary embolus
• Other:
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No concurrent medical illness that would preclude study
• No serious uncontrolled infection
• No serious peripheral neuropathy
• No circumstances that would preclude study compliance
• No sensitivity to E. coli-derived drug preparations
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Prior biologic therapy allowed
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy, including chemotherapy for radiosensitization
• Endocrine therapy:
• No prior hormonal therapy for endometrial cancer
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy involving the whole pelvis or more than 50% of the spine
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• Concurrent cardiac conduction-altering medications such as digitalis, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers allowed at the investigator's discretion