Letrozole in Treating Women With Recurrent or Metastatic Endometrial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven, recurrent or metastatic, adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma of the endometrium not curable by surgery and/or radiotherapy Failed one prior progestin therapy for advanced/metastatic disease OR Considered for letrozole as first line therapy of advanced/metastatic disease No clear cell or papillary serous histology, uterine sarcomas, mixed muellerian tumors, and/or adenosarcomas At least one site of measurable disease by clinical exam, CT, or MRI scan Bone lesion(s) are not considered measurable No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Menopausal status: Postmenopausal (surgical or natural) Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than upper limit of normal (ULN) AST or ALT no greater than 2 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase less than 2 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years, except: Adequately treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer Carcinoma in situ of the cervix No other concurrent medical illness that would preclude compliance PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy for advanced/metastatic disease At least 4 weeks since prior adjuvant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: See Disease Characteristics No more than one prior progestational hormone therapy regimen for advanced/metastatic disease At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy No prior tamoxifen or other aromatase inhibitor therapy Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Concurrent radiotherapy for symptomatic metastatic lesions allowed Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: No other concurrent anticancer therapy No other concurrent investigational therapy