Topotecan in Treating Women With Persistent or Recurrent Cervical Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed carcinoma of the cervix Squamous cell or nonsquamous cell Persistent or recurrent disease Documented disease progression Measurable disease At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques 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 persistent disease at least 90 days after completion of prior radiotherapy Must have received 1 prior systemic chemotherapy regimen for persistent or recurrent squamous cell or nonsquamous 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 18 and over Performance status GOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/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 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 malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy 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 At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for cervical cancer No concurrent prophylactic growth factors, including filgrastim (G-CSF), sargramostim (GM-CSF), or pegfilgrastim No concurrent prophylactic thrombopoietic agents Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior chemotherapy No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen (either with single or combination cytotoxic drug therapy) No prior topotecan Endocrine therapy At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for cervical cancer Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics Recovered from prior radiotherapy Surgery Recovered from prior surgery Other At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for cervical cancer No prior cancer therapy that would preclude study participation