Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Cancer of the Cervix

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of persistent or recurrent nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix that has failed local therapeutic measures and is considered incurable * Eligible subtypes: * Adenocarcinoma * Adenosquamous carcinoma * Undifferentiated carcinoma * Must have documented disease progression * Histologic confirmation of original primary tumor required * Bidimensionally measurable disease * Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocol PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * GOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGOT and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: * No significant infection * Not pregnant * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF) Chemotherapy: * No prior gemcitabine * At least 3 weeks since other prior chemotherapy for cervical cancer and recovered * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen (single or combination cytotoxic therapy) Endocrine therapy: * Not specified Radiotherapy: * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for cervical cancer and recovered Surgery: * At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for cervical cancer and recovered Other: * No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study