Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed refractory or recurrent squamous cell
carcinoma of the cervix that has failed local therapeutic measures and considered
incurable Bidimensionally measurable disease Must not be eligible for a higher priority
GOG protocol No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Not specified Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy:
Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper
limit of normal (ULN) SGOT no greater than 3 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no greater
than 3 times ULN Renal: Creatinine normal Cardiovascular: No symptomatic congestive heart
failure No unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia Other: Not pregnant or nursing
Fertile patients must use effective contraception No evidence of preexisting peripheral
sensory neuropathy greater than CTC grade 1, including residual neuropathy attributed to
prior chemotherapy and other chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, venous stasis, and carpal
tunnel syndrome) No history of allergy to platinum compounds or to antiemetics appropriate
for administration in conjunction with protocol directed chemotherapy No other
uncontrolled concurrent illness (e.g., ongoing or active infection) No other malignancy
within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer and no other prior malignancy whose
prior cancer treatment contraindicates this protocol therapy

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent colony stimulating factors
(CSFs) during first course of therapy At least 24 hours since prior CSFs during subsequent
courses of therapy Chemotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
No prior oxaliplatin No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen Endocrine therapy: Not
specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery:
At least 3 weeks since prior surgery and recovered Other: At least 3 weeks since prior
anticancer therapy and recovered No other concurrent investigational agents No concurrent
antiretroviral therapy (HAART)