DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed carcinoma of the cervix

  • Squamous cell or nonsquamous cell
  • Persistent or recurrent disease
  • Documented disease progression

• Measurable disease

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  • Tumors within a previously irradiated field are considered non-target lesions unless disease progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistent disease at least 90 days after completion of prior radiotherapy

• Must have received 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for persistent or recurrent squamous cell or nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

  • Chemotherapy administered with primary radiotherapy as a radiosensitizer is not considered a systemic chemotherapy regimen
• Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (i.e., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN

Other

• Sensory or motor neuropathy ≤ grade 1
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• One prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen for recurrent or persistent disease allowed, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Monoclonal antibodies
  • Cytokines
  • Small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for cervical cancer
• No concurrent prophylactic growth factors, including filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or pegfilgrastim
• No concurrent prophylactic thrombopoietic agents

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen (either with single or combination cytotoxic drug therapy)
• No prior topotecan

Endocrine therapy

• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for cervical cancer
• 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 cervical cancer
• No prior cancer therapy that would preclude study participation