Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Leiomyosarcoma of the Uterus Previously Treated With Chemotherapy

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed uterine leiomyosarcoma * Persistent or recurrent disease that is refractory to curative or established treatments * Histologic confirmation of the original primary tumor is required * Measurable disease defined as ≥ 1 lesion that can be accurately measured in ≥ 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) * Each lesion must be ≥ 10 mm by CT scan, MRI, or caliper measurement by clinical exam OR ≥ 20 mm by chest x-ray * Lymph nodes must be ≥ 15 mm in short axis by CT scan or MRI * Must have ≥ 1 "target lesion" to assess response * Tumors within a previously irradiated field will be designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence ≥ 90 days following completion of radiotherapy * Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol, if one exists * Must have had 1 prior cytotoxic regimen that included a taxane regimen for management of leiomyosarcoma * Single-agent or multi-agent therapy allowed * Patients who did not receive prior therapy with a taxane (e.g., docetaxel) must receive a second regimen that includes a taxane * No known brain metastases * GOG performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy \> 6 months * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * AST ≤ 3 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Peripheral neuropathy (sensory or mother) ≤ grade 1 * Negat…