Pemetrexed Disodium in Treating Patients With Recurrent Cancer of the Cervix

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed carcinoma of the cervix Squamous cell or non-squamous cell Recurrent disease Progressive disease Measurable disease At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan Tumors within a previously irradiated field are considered non-target lesions unless disease progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days after completion of radiotherapy Not amenable to surgery, radiotherapy, or other therapy Must have received 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for persistent or recurrent squamous cell or non-squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix Chemotherapy administered with primary radiotherapy as a radiosensitizer is not considered a systemic chemotherapy regimen Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (i.e., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Any age Performance status GOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL Hepatic AST and ALT ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN)* Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 times ULN* Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN NOTE: * ≤ 5 times ULN if liver metastases are present Renal Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 mL/min Other Not pregnant Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for at least 3 months after study participation Neuropathy (sensory and motor) ≤ grade 1 No active infection requiring antibiotics No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for the malignant tumor At least 24 hours since prior growth factors One prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen for recurrent or persistent disease allowed, including, but not limited to, the following: Monoclonal antibodies Cytokines Small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction No concurrent routine colony-stimulating factors Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior chemotherapy No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen with either single or combination cytotoxic drug therapy No prior pemetrexed disodium Endocrine therapy At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignant tumor Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of bone marrow Surgery Recovered from prior surgery Other At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignant tumor No nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 2-5 days before, during, and for 1-2 days after study drug administration Concurrent daily low-dose (≤ 325 mg/day) aspirin therapy allowed No prior therapy that would contraindicate study participation