Oxaliplatin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma that is refractory to curative therapy or established treatment

  * Clinically and/or histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent disease
* Measurable disease by physical examination or medical imaging

  * Sonography allowed if lesions are clearly defined on initial examination and bidimensionally measurable
  * Ascites or pleural effusions not considered measurable
* Must have received 1 prior cytotoxic therapy regimen

  * May include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy after surgical or nonsurgical assessment
  * 1 additional noncytotoxic regimen allowed

    * Biologic or cytostatic agents include, but are not limited to:

      * Monoclonal antibodies
      * Cytokines
      * Small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction
* Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol
* No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

* 18 and over

Performance status

* GOG 0-2 if received 1 prior therapy regimen
* GOG 0-1 if received 2 prior therapy regimens

Life expectancy

* Not specified

Hematopoietic

* Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 100,000/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

Cardiovascular

* No symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia

Neurologic

* No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1
* No residual neuropathy attributed to prior chemotherapy or other chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, venous stasis, or carpal tunnel syndrome)

Other

* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception
* No history of allergy to platinum compounds or antiemetics
* No active infection requiring antibiotics
* No other uncontrolled illness
* No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 14 days since prior pegfilgrastim
* At least 24 hours since other prior growth factors
* At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy
* No concurrent growth factors during first course of study therapy

Chemotherapy

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
* No more than 1 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen, either single or combination cytotoxic drug therapy
* No prior oxaliplatin

Endocrine therapy

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

Radiotherapy

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

* Recovered from any recent surgery

Other

* At least 3 weeks since prior therapy for endometrial cancer
* No other concurrent investigational agents
* No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study participation