DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed metastatic, recurrent, or refractory epithelial endometrial carcinoma Must be one of the following histologic types: Endometrioid adenocarcinoma Villoglandular Secretory Ciliated Endometrioid adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation Serous carcinoma Clear cell carcinoma Mucinous carcinoma Squamous carcinoma Mixed types of carcinoma Undifferentiated carcinoma Must not be amenable to surgery or radiotherapy Documented evidence of progression at site if the only site of measurable disease has been irradiated Metastatic sites need not be biopsied Measurable disease