Combination Chemotherapy and Filgrastim or Pegfilgrastim in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Cancer of the Uterus

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed uterine leiomyosarcoma * Recurrent or persistent disease that is refractory to curative therapy or established treatments * Must have received 1 prior chemotherapy regimen that may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy after surgical or nonsurgical assessment * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Lesions within a previously irradiated field allowed provided progression is documented or biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days following completion of radiation therapy * Ineligible for a high priority GOG protocol * Performance status - GOG 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.1 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 * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No motor or sensory neuropathy greater than grade 1 * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * Not pregnant * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No more than 1 prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule signal transduction inhibitors) for recurrent or persistent disease * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy for this disease * See Disease Characteristics * See Biologic therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No prior docetaxel or gemcitabine * No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial regimens * No prior chemotherapy for another malignancy that would preclude study * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for this disease * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior recent surgery * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for this disease * No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents