Combination Chemotherapy Compared With Hormone Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Stage III, or Stage IV Endometrial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed primary stage III or IV or recurrent endometrial cancer Poor curative potential with radiotherapy or surgery (alone or in combination) Measurable disease At least one lesion accurately measured in at least one dimension At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan Disease in a previously irradiated field as sole site of measurable disease allowed only if clear progression after completion of radiotherapy Estrogen receptor(ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) status of primary tumor required ER/PR status of measurable tumor optional PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal SGPT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL Cardiovascular: LVEF at least 50% No third-degree or complete heart block, unless pacemaker is in place Other conduction abnormalities or cardiac dysfunction allowed at the investigator's discretion No history of deep venous thrombosis No uncontrolled angina Pulmonary: No history of pulmonary embolus Other: No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer No concurrent medical illness that would preclude study No serious uncontrolled infection No serious peripheral neuropathy No circumstances that would preclude study compliance No sensitivity to E. coli-derived drug preparations PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Prior biologic therapy allowed Chemotherapy: No prior cytotoxic chemotherapy, including chemotherapy for radiosensitization Endocrine therapy: No prior hormonal therapy for endometrial cancer Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy involving the whole pelvis or more than 50% of the spine Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: Concurrent cardiac conduction-altering medications such as digitalis, beta blockers, or calcium channel blockers allowed at the investigator's discretion