Paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed recurrent or persistent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer
• Measurable disease
• * At least 1 lesion measured in at least 1 dimension
• * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR
• * At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• At least 1 target lesion
• * Tumors within a previously irradiated field considered non-target lesions
• Paclitaxel resistant
• * Treatment-free interval of less than 6 months duration after treatment with prior paclitaxel OR
• * Progression during prior paclitaxel-based therapy
• Platinum resistant or refractory
• * Treatment-free interval of less than 6 months duration after treatment with prior platinum OR
• * Progression during prior platinum-based therapy
• Ineligible for higher priority GOG protocol (any active GOG phase III protocol for the same patient population)
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• Any age
• 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
• Other:
• Not pregnant
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No other prior invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No grade 2 or greater neuropathy (sensory and motor)
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for cancer
• Chemotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy for cancer and recovered
• Received at least 1 but no more than 2 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimens containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound for primary or recurrent disease
• Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy
• Received at least 1 prior paclitaxel-based chemotherapy regimen
• No prior paclitaxel or docetaxel with a schedule of less than a 3-week interval between doses
• No additional prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for cancer
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Radiotherapy:
• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy for cancer and recovered
• No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas
• Surgery:
• At least 3 weeks since prior surgery for cancer and recovered
• Other:
• At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for cancer
• No prior anticancer treatment that would preclude study
• No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents