Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Diagnosis of persistent or recurrent nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix that
has failed local therapeutic measures and is considered incurable

- Eligible subtypes:

- Adenocarcinoma

- Adenosquamous carcinoma

- Undifferentiated carcinoma

- Must have documented disease progression

- Histologic confirmation of original primary tumor required

- Bidimensionally measurable disease

- Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocol

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 and over

Performance status:

- GOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

- Not specified

Hematopoietic:

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

- Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm^3

Hepatic:

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal

- SGOT and alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal

Renal:

- Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

Other:

- No significant infection

- Not pregnant

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception

- No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanomatous skin
cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

- No concurrent filgrastim (G-CSF)

Chemotherapy:

- No prior gemcitabine

- At least 3 weeks since other prior chemotherapy for cervical cancer and recovered

- No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen (single or combination cytotoxic therapy)

Endocrine therapy:

- Not specified

Radiotherapy:

- At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for cervical cancer and recovered

Surgery:

- At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for cervical cancer and recovered

Other:

- No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study