SU5416 in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Cervical Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed cervical squamous cell carcinoma

  * Persistent or recurrent disease with documented progression
  * No nonsquamous cell cervical malignancies, including adenosquamous carcinoma
* At least 1 measurable lesion

  * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR
  * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
* Failed prior local therapeutic measures
* Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population)
* Tumor must be accessible for biopsy using direct- or guided-needle technique

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* Not specified

Performance status:

* GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

* Not specified

Hematopoietic:

* Platelet count at least lower limit of normal
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
* SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR
* Creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

* No uncompensated coronary artery disease on electrocardiogram or physical examination
* No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
* No severe/unstable angina within the past 6 months
* No severe peripheral vascular disease
* No deep vein or arterial thrombosis within the past 3 months

Pulmonary:

* No pulmonary embolism within the past 3 months

Other:

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* Must have central venous access
* No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
* No prior allergic reaction to paclitaxel
* No active infection requiring antibiotics
* No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1
* No contraindications to low-dose (1 mg/day) warfarin or low-molecular weight heparin prophylaxis
* No claustrophobia that would preclude MRI studies
* No ferromagnetic implants or pacers
* No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer
* No other concurrent circumstances that would preclude study completion

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* See Disease Characteristics

Biologic therapy:

* No prior antiangiogenesis agents, including SU5416
* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents directed at malignancy

Chemotherapy:

* No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen, including single or combination cytotoxic drug therapy (radiosensitizers do not count as prior regimen)
* At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignancy
* Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy:

* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy directed at malignancy and recovered

Surgery:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for malignancy and recovered

Other:

* No prior cancer therapy that would preclude study