Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced, Persistent, or Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed advanced, persistent, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix
• •* Documented disease progression after local therapy and considered incurable
• •At least 1 target lesion measurable in at least 1 dimension
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •* Target lesion cannot be in a previously irradiated field
• •PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Age:
• •Any age
• •Performance status:
• •GOG 0-2
• •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 upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• •Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• •Renal:
• •Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min
• •Other:
• •Not pregnant
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No active infection requiring antibiotics
• •No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• •No neuropathy (sensory and motor) greater than grade I
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy for the malignant tumor
• •No concurrent prophylactic filgrastim (G-CSF)
• •Chemotherapy:
• •At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for the malignant tumor and recovered
• •No prior cytotoxic therapy (except when used as a radiosensitizer)
• •No prior chemotherapy for other malignancy
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignant tumor
• •Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• •Radiotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for the malignant tumor and recovered
• •No prior radiotherapy for other malignancy
• •Surgery:
• •Recovered from prior surgery
• •Other:
• •At least 3 weeks since any other prior therapy for the malignant tumor
• •No prior anticancer therapy that contraindicates study therapy
• •No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents