Gefitinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• •DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• •Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
• •* Recurrent or persistent disease
• •Must have had prior therapy with no more than 1 platinum-based chemotherapy regimen (e.g., carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound) for primary disease
• •Platinum-resistant or refractory
• •* Treatment-free interval of less than 6 months after therapy with platinum-containing regimen OR
• •* Progression during platinum-containing regimen OR
• •* Platinum sensitive defined as treatment-free interval without disease progression for more than 6 months but less than 12 months after therapy with platinum-containing regimen
• •At least 1 lesion measurable in at least 1 dimension
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques (e.g., palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, or MRI) OR
• •* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •At least 1 target lesion outside a previously irradiated field
• •Disease must be accessible to core needle biopsy
• •Ineligible for higher priority GOG 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 unstable cardiac disease
• •No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• •Coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and dysrhythmia allowed if on stable regimen for at least 3 months
• •Other:
• •Not pregnant
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •No sensory or motor neuropathy greater than grade 1
• •No active corneal disease (e.g., keratoconjunctivitis)
• •No active infection requiring antibiotics
• •No evidence of bowel dysfunction that could be related to early bowel obstruction
• •No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• •PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• •Biologic therapy:
• •At least 3 weeks since prior immunological agents for the malignancy
• •No concurrent anti-cancer immunotherapy
• •Chemotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •No more than 1 additional prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or persistent disease
• •No prior noncytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease
• •At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for the malignancy and recovered
• •No concurrent anti-cancer chemotherapy
• •Endocrine therapy:
• •At least 1 week since prior anticancer hormonal therapy
• •Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• •No concurrent anti-cancer hormonal therapy
• •Radiotherapy:
• •See Disease Characteristics
• •At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for the malignancy and recovered
• •No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas
• •No concurrent anti-cancer radiotherapy
• •Surgery:
• •At least 4 weeks since prior surgery (except minor procedures under local anesthesia (e.g., central venous port placement)) and recovered
• •Other:
• •At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy
• •No prior gefitinib
• •No other prior epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors
• •No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study therapy
• •No concurrent chlorpromazine
• •No other concurrent investigational agents
• •No other concurrent antineoplastic agents
• •No concurrent CYP3A4-inducing agents, including phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, nafcillin, rifampicin, or St. John's Wort