Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Endometrial Carcinoma (Cancer)

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma
• * Recurrent or persistent disease
• * Refractory to curative or standard therapy
• Measurable disease
• * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * At least 1 target lesion
• * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions
• Received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for endometrial carcinoma, including high-dose, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
• * One additional non-cytotoxic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease allowed, including monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction
• Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Any age
• Performance status
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No neuropathy (sensory and motor) ≥ grade 2
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy for malignant tumor
• No concurrent prophylactic growth factors
• No concurrent prophylactic thrombopoietic agents
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen (single or combination cytotoxic drugs)
• Endocrine therapy
• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• Surgery
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other
• At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for malignant tumor
• No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude current protocol therapy
• No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents