Radiation Therapy Compared With Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Cancer of the Uterus

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed primary homologous or heterologous carcinosarcoma of the uterus (corpus and cervix) * Surgical stage I-IV disease, including positive adnexa, tumor invading the serosa, positive pelvic and/or para-aortic nodes, involvement of the mucosa of the bowel, bladder, or rectum, intra-abdominal metastases, positive pelvic washings, or vaginal involvement within planned radiation port * Prior total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and maximum tumor resection of all gross intra-abdominal/pelvic disease, including grossly involved pelvic and para-aortic nodes within 8 weeks before study * No greater than 1 cm residual disease * Cervical sarcomas also allowed * No metastasis beyond the abdominal cavity at diagnosis, including the following: * Parenchymal liver metastasis * Lung metastasis * Positive inguinal lymph nodes * Positive scalene nodes * Radiographic or pathologic evidence of bone or brain metastasis PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 21 and over Performance status: * GOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 3,000/mm3 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGOT no greater than 3 times normal * Albumin at least 3 g/dL * No acute hepatitis Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Other: * No septicemia * No severe infection * No severe gastrointestinal bleeding * No prior invasive or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * Not specified Chemotherapy: * No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * Prior hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * No prior therapy that would preclude study therapy