DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent, advanced, or metastatic endometrial cancer not amenable to curative surgery or radiotherapy Patients should have previously undergone radical surgery (minimum of total abdominal hysterectomy and bisalpingoophorectomy), radical radiotherapy, or not be candidate for such procedures Bidimensionally measurable disease by x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or physical exam No papillary serous or clear cell carcinomas of the endometrium Hormone receptor status: Estrogen receptor positive and/or progesterone receptor positive Unknown receptor status patients allowed provided (1) original tumor was well- or moderately-well differentiated (2) had endometrioid histology