OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the objective tumor response rate (complete response and partial response) to arzoxifene hydrochloride in patients with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer. II. Determine the time to progressive disease, time to treatment failure, response duration, and survival in patients with recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer receiving arzoxifene hydrochloride. III. Assess the safety of this treatment in these patients. IV. Measure changes in serum estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and sex hormone binding globulin during this treatment in these patients.