Liposomal Doxorubicin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Cancer of the Cervix

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix
• * Persistent or recurrent progressive disease
• Must have failed local therapeutic measures and considered incurable
• 1 prior chemotherapeutic regimen for SCC of the cervix required
• * Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy
• Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol
• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
• * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * Target lesion may not be within a previously irradiated field
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Any age
• Performance status:
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 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 congestive heart failure
• No unstable angina
• No myocardial infarction or new cardiac arrhythmia in the past 6 months
• Other:
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• 1 prior noncytotoxic biologic regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) allowed for recurrent or persistent disease (provided patient has not received a noncytotoxic cytostatic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease management)
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy for SCC of the cervix
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior doxorubicin or doxorubicin HCl liposome
• 1 prior noncytotoxic cytostatic regimen allowed for recurrent or persistent disease (provided patient has not received a noncytotoxic biologic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease management)
• No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for SCC of the cervix
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other:
• At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for SCC of the cervix
• No prior anticancer treatment that precludes study