Ixabepilone in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Has Not Responded to Previous Chemotherapy

Inclusion Criteria

• •Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer or primary peritoneal cancer
• •* Recurrent or persistent disease
• •* Platinum AND taxane-resistant or refractory disease
• •* Progressed during therapy
• •* Refractory disease within 6 months of therapy
• •Measurable disease
• •* At least 20 mm by conventional techniques
• •* At least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• •* Tumor lesions located within a previously irradiated field are not considered measurable disease unless there is documented tumor progression in these lesions or biopsy confirmation ≥ 90 days following completion of radiotherapy
• •Ineligible for higher priority GOG (Gynecologic Oncology Group) protocol
• •No active brain metastases
• •Performance status - GOG 0-2
• •Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• •Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• •Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• •SGOT (serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• •Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• •Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• •No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1
• •No dementia or altered mental status
• •No other serious uncontrolled medical disorder
• •No active infection requiring antibiotics
• •No prior hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel or other therapy containing Cremophor EL
• •No other malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• •Not pregnant or nursing
• •Negative pregnancy test
• •Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• •At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy
• •At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy
• •Must have received:
• •* 1 prior combination taxane-based and platinum-based chemotherapy regimen
• •* 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen AND 1 prior taxane-based chemotherapy regimen
• •Initial treatment may include high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy
• •At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• •No prior ixabepilone
• •No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including treatment with initial regimen
• •At least 1 week since prior hormonal anticancer therapy
• •Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• •At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• •No prior radiotherapy to site(s) of measurable disease
• •No radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-containing areas
• •Recovered from recent surgery
• •At least 3 weeks since other anticancer therapy
• •No prior anticancer therapy that precludes study participation
• •No concurrent food supplements (e.g., St. John's wort)
• •No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents