Comparison of Two Combination Chemotherapy Regimens Plus Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Endometrial Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed advanced endometrial carcinoma with any histology, including: * Clear cell and serous papillary carcinoma * Surgical stage III disease, including: * Positive adnexa * Tumor invading the serosa * Positive pelvic and/or paraaortic nodes * Involvement of bowel mucosa * Intraabdominal metastases * Positive pelvic washings * Vaginal involvement within the radiation port * Must have had prior surgery, including hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy * Tumor maximally debulked to a maximum residual diameter of no greater than 2 cm * Paraaortic lymph node sampling allowed * If positive, must have negative chest CT scan * No recurrent disease * No parenchymal liver metastases * No disease outside the abdomen * Performance status - GOG 0-2 * At least 3 months * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal * SGOT/SGPT no greater than 3 times normal * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal * Creatinine no greater than 1.6 mg/dL * LVEF at least 50% within 6 months of study entry * No other prior or concurrent malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated nonmelanoma skin cancer * No serious comorbid illness that would preclude study participation * No prior chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * No prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy for prior malignancy * Se…