Capecitabine and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer or Other Pelvic Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed cervical cancer or other pelvic malignancy, including vaginal, endometrial, or ovarian cancer * Primary or recurrent disease * Locally advanced disease, defined as the following: * Stage IB2-IVA (for cervical or vaginal cancer) * Any non-extra pelvic metastatic stage (for endometrial or ovarian cancer) * Not amenable to curative surgical resection alone * Bidimensionally measurable or clinically evaluable disease * Refused or ineligible for weekly IV cisplatin chemotherapy due to renal insufficiency, prior platinum adverse sensitivity, pre-existing neuropathy, or concurrent co-morbid illness * No histologically confirmed or clinically suspicious (≥ 1 cm) para-aortic lymphadenopathy * No brain metastases or primary brain tumors PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over (80 and under for second and third dose-escalation levels) Performance status * GOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL * AST and ALT \< 2 times upper limit of normal Renal * See Disease Characteristics * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min\* * No proteinuria or clinically significant impaired renal function NOTE: \*Creatine clearance testing required in patients \> 60 years of age Cardiovascular * No symptomatic New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmia * No uncontrolled hypertension Gastrointestinal * Able to swallow oral medication * No bowel obstruction * No malabsorption illness Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No known hypersensitivity to capecitabine or fluorouracil * No ongoing or active infection * No other uncontrolled illness * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * No other active invasive malignancy * Prior malignancy in remission for ≥ 6 months that is not currently being treated allowed PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for mitomycin or nitrosoureas) * Prior chemotherapy for a non-gynecologic malignancy or in the adjuvant setting allowed * No prior capecitabine Endocrine therapy * Prior adjuvant hormonal therapy allowed Radiotherapy * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * Prior radiotherapy for a non-gynecologic malignancy allowed * No prior low abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * At least 3 weeks since prior investigational anticancer agents and recovered * No prior anticancer treatment that contraindicates study therapy