Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Stage III or Stage IV Uterine Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed uterine carcinosarcoma (mixed mesodermal tumor) * Stage III or IV disease * Persistent or recurrent disease * Documented disease progression * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * At least 1 target lesion * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions unless there is documented disease progression * Ineligible for any higher priority Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG) protocol (i.e., any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * GOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for uterine sarcoma Endocrine therapy * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for uterine sarcoma * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics Surgery * Not specified Other * Recovered from all prior therapy * No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study therapy