Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Cervical Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix * Progressive disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions * One prior systemic chemotherapeutic regimen for advanced, metastatic, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix required * Chemotherapy administered as a radiosensitizer in conjunction with primary radiotherapy is not considered a systemic chemotherapy regimen * Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active Phase III GOG protocol or GOG-0076) * Performance status - GOG 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * 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 * No congestive heart failure * No unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or new cardiac arrhythmia within the past 6 months * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No greater than grade 1 sensory and motor neuropathy * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy directed at malignant tumor * One prior noncytotoxic regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule signal transduction inhibitors) for recurrent or persistent disease allowed * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * No prior docetaxel * No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen * At least one week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignant tumor * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * Recovered from recent prior surgery * At least 3 weeks since any prior therapy directed at malignant tumor * No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study * No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents