Tirapazamine Plus Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
• At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• Platinum-sensitive disease
• * Treatment-free interval of more than 6 months without clinical evidence of progressive disease after a response to a platinum compound
• One prior chemotherapy regimen containing cisplatin or another platinum compound for primary disease required
• * Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
• * Patients not previously treated with paclitaxel may receive a second regimen containing paclitaxel
• * No additional cytotoxic chemotherapy (including retreatment with initial regimens) for recurrent or persistent disease
• Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population)
• * Treatment-free interval of more than 12 months if non-platinum-based GOG-0146 series protocol is active concurrently with this protocol
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Not specified
• Performance status:
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy:
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic:
• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Renal:
• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN
• Cardiovascular:
• No prior or concurrent myocardial infarction or ischemic heart disease
• Other:
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunological agents directed at malignant tumor
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• No prior tirapazamine
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at malignant tumor
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease used on this study
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other:
• No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study
• At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at malignant tumor