Radiation Therapy Compared With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Endometrial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Pathological stage III/IV endometrial carcinoma of any histology (including clear cell and serous papillary carcinomas) The following extent of disease eligible: Positive adnexa Tumor invading the serosa Positive pelvic nodes Positive para-aortic nodes Involvement of the bowel mucosa Intra-abdominal metastases Positive pelvic washings Vaginal involvement within the radiotherapy field Hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) required with residual tumor not greater than 2 cm at any site Selective pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling optional for patients with stage III/IV disease by other criteria If para-aortic nodes are positive, scalene nodes must be negative on biopsy and chest CT must be negative for intrathoracic disease The following disease conditions exclude: Parenchymal liver metastasis Lung metastasis Positive inguinal nodes Positive scalene nodes Recurrent disease Protocol therapy must begin within 8 weeks after surgery PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-3 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal AST no greater than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Cardiovascular: Left ventricular ejection fraction normal Other: No past or concomitant malignancy other than nonmelanomatous skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior biologic therapy Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Prior progestational agents allowed No other prior endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy Surgery: Hysterectomy and BSO required Pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling optional (see Disease Characteristics)