Thalidomide in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma * Recurrent or persistent (refractory to curative therapy or established treatment) * No sarcomas * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * At least 1 target lesion outside the area of prior radiotherapy * Received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for endometrial carcinoma * Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy * No more than 1 additional cytotoxic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease * No non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease * Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocols (any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population) * No documented brain metastases since diagnosis of cancer * Patients with stable CNS deficits allowed provided there are no brain metastases, as confirmed by CT scan or MRI * Performance status - GOG 0-2 if patient received 1 prior regimen * Performance status - GOG 0-1 if patient received 2 prior regimens * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use 2 methods of effective contraception for 4 weeks before, during, and for 4 weeks after study participation * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1 * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer * No documented seizure disorders since diagnosis of cancer * Patients with a history of seizure disorders allowed provided that the seizures have been stable (i.e., no seizure within the past 12 months) while on an appropriately monitored treatment regimen * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents directed at malignancy * No prior thalidomide * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignancy * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas * Recovered from prior surgery * At least 3 weeks since any other prior therapy directed at malignancy * No prior cancer therapy that would preclude study participation * No concurrent bisphosphonates (e.g., zoledronate)