Comparison of Four Combination Chemotherapy Regimens Using Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Stage IVB, Recurrent, or Persistent Cancer of the Cervix

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma of the cervix

  * Stage IVB, recurrent, or persistent disease
* Not amenable to curative surgery and/or radiotherapy
* At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion

  * At least 20 mm by palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
  * Biopsy confirmation required if lesion is less than 30 mm
  * Target lesion must be outside of a previously irradiated field
* No craniospinal metastases
* Performance status - GOG 0-1
* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
* Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal
* Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal
* AST no greater than 3 times normal
* Creatinine ≤ 1.2 mg/dL
* Creatinine \> 1.2 mg/dL but \< 1.5 mg/dL AND creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
* No bilateral hydronephrosis not alleviated by ureteral stents or percutaneous drainage
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
* No prior malignancy whose treatment contraindicates the current study therapy
* No concurrent clinically significant infection
* No concurrent cytokines
* At least 6 weeks since prior chemoradiotherapy and recovered
* No prior chemotherapy (except when concurrently administered with radiotherapy)
* At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
* Recovered from prior surgery