Topotecan and Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Cancer of the Cervix

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent, persistent or metastatic cervical carcinoma (squamous or adenocarcinoma), with no potentially curative standard treatment Measurable disease or evaluable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 to physiological 60 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 2 months Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3000/mm3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin less than 1.5 times normal SGOT/SGPT less than 1.5 times normal Renal: BUN less than 1.5 times normal Creatinine less than 1.5 times normal Creatinine clearance greater than 50 mL/min Other: Ineligible for other high priority national or institutional study Not pregnant or nursing HIV negative No prior malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer No serious medical or psychiatric illness preventing treatment or informed consent PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: Greater than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No greater than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens No prior taxane or camptothecin Endocrine therapy: No concurrent hormonal therapy except that required for nondisease related conditions (e.g., insulin for diabetes) Radiotherapy: Greater than 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy No concurrent radiation therapy Surgery: Greater than 4 weeks since prior surgery