Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Ovarian Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed stage IIB, IIC, III, or IV ovarian epithelial cancer
• Measurable or evaluable lesion or microscopic residual disease after first surgery (phase II patients)
• No brain and/or leptomeningeal metastases by CT scan or MRI unless asymptomatic without corticosteroid therapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• At least 3 months
• Hematopoietic:
• Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
• WBC at least 3,500/mm3
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) unless liver metastases present
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN\*
• SGOT no greater than 2 times ULN\* NOTE: \*No greater than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min
• Cardiovascular:
• No symptomatic cardiac disease, including clinical congestive heart failure or arrhythmias requiring treatment
• No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
• Other:
• No other malignancy except basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
• No uncontrolled infection
• No complete bowel obstruction or other condition that would affect GI absorption or motility
• No concurrent medical condition for which treatment with platinum, taxane, or camptothecin analogues are contraindicated
• No other concurrent medical conditions that would preclude study
• No mental disease
• No history of allergy to platinum or taxanes, including drugs containing cremophor (e.g., cyclosporine or vitamin K)
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• No concurrent immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy:
• No prior camptothecin analogue
• No prior chemotherapy for ovarian cancer
• No other concurrent chemotherapy
• Endocrine therapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No concurrent hormonal therapy other than estrogen replacement
• Radiotherapy:
• No concurrent radiotherapy
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• At least 30 days or 5 half-lives since any prior investigational therapy
• No other concurrent investigational therapy
• No concurrent metoclopramide or cisapride