DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed advanced, refractory gynecologic cancer

• Must have received prior chemotherapy

  • Residual or recurrent disease after initial or subsequent therapy
• At least 1 site of bidimensionally measurable disease OR evaluable but radiographically nonmeasurable disease associated with CA-125 > 50 units/mL on two measurements at least one week apart
• No known brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG performance status 0-1
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• WBC ≥ 4,000/mm^3
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
• Bilirubin normal

• Meets 1 of the following criteria:

  • Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND SGOT or SGPT normal
  • AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND SGOT or SGPT normal
  • AP normal AND SGOT or SGPT ≤ 5 times ULN
  • AP ≤ 2.5 ULN AND SGOT or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• No history of myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure
• No significant ischemic or valvular heart disease
• No peripheral neuropathy > grade 2
• No history of severe hypersensitivity to docetaxel or other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80
• BUN ≤ 30 mg/dL
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL
• No other prior malignancy in the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal or immunologic therapy
• At least 4 weeks since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas and mitomycin C)
• At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy