Cidofovir in Treating Patients With Stage IB, Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IVA Cervical Cancer Who Are Receiving Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs such as cidofovir may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving cidofovir together with radiation therapy and chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of cidofovir in treating patients with stage IB, stage II, stage III, or stage IVA cervical cancer who are receiving chemotherapy together with radiation therapy.