Combination Chemotherapy and Filgrastim or Pegfilgrastim in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Cancer of the Uterus

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically confirmed uterine leiomyosarcoma
• •* Recurrent or persistent disease that is refractory to curative therapy or established treatments
• •* Must have received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen that may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy after surgical or nonsurgical assessment
• •At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques
• •* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •* Lesions within a previously irradiated field allowed provided progression is documented or biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days following completion of radiation therapy
• •Ineligible for a high priority GOG protocol
• •Performance status - GOG 0-2
• •Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• •Bilirubin no greater than 1.1 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• •Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• •Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• •No active infection requiring antibiotics
• •No motor or sensory neuropathy greater than grade 1
• •No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• •Not pregnant
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No more than 1 prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule signal transduction inhibitors) for recurrent or persistent disease
• •At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy for this disease
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •See Biologic therapy
• •At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• •No prior docetaxel or gemcitabine
• •No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial regimens
• •No prior chemotherapy for another malignancy that would preclude study
• •At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for this disease
• •Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •Recovered from prior recent surgery
• •At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for this disease
• •No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents