Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed endometrial adenocarcinoma * Recurrent or persistent disease * Histologic confirmation of the original primary tumor is required * Not amenable to management with any of the following: * Surgery * Radiotherapy * Higher priority or standard chemotherapy * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * At least 1 target lesion * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as non-target lesions * Disease in an irradiated field as the only site of measurable disease is acceptable as a target lesion only if there has been clear progression of the lesion at least 90 days after completion of radiotherapy * Received 1, and only 1, prior chemotherapy regimen (e.g., high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgery or non-surgical assessment) for management of endometrial adenocarcinoma * Ineligible for a higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol (e.g., any active GOG phase III study for the same patient population) * Performance status - GOG 0-2 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST (aspartate aminotransferase) ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Sensory or motor neuropathy ≤ grade 1 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents directed at the malignant tumor * One prior non-cytotoxic\* (biologic or cytostatic) regimen for management of recurrent or persistent disease allowed * See Disease Characteristics * Prior paclitaxel or docetaxel allowed * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen (either single or combination drug therapy) * No prior ixabepilone * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor * Continuation of hormone replacement therapy allowed * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * Recovered from prior surgery * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor * No prior cancer treatment that contraindicates study therapy