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

You may be eligible if

• 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