Docetaxel and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Cervical Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically or cytologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

  * Locally advanced (stage IIB- IVA) disease
* Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* ECOG performance status 0-2
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL
* WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine normal
* Bilirubin normal
* SGOT and SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) if alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ ULN OR AP ≤ 4 times ULN if SGOT and SGPT ≤ ULN
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Negative pregnancy test
* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for up to 6 months after completion of study treatment
* No history of severe allergic reactions to agents containing polysorbate 80
* No concurrent uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to, any of the following:

  * Ongoing or active infection
  * Symptomatic congestive heart failure
  * Unstable angina pectoris
  * Cardiac arrhythmia
  * Psychiatric illness or social situations that would preclude compliance with study requirements
* No peripheral neuropathy ≥ grade 2
* No HIV positivity

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* More than 4 weeks since prior unrelated therapy and recovered
* No prior chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy
* No other concurrent investigational agents or anticancer agents or therapies