Paclitaxel and Celecoxib in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer
• * Recurrent or persistent disease
• Measurable disease
• * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion at least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
• * At least 1 target lesion not in a previously irradiated field
• Must have received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen for primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound
• * Initial treatment may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
• * Platinum-resistant or refractory (i.e., had a treatment-free interval after platinum therapy of less than 6 months OR disease progression during platinum-based therapy)
• * Patients who have not received a prior taxane may have received a second regimen that included paclitaxel or docetaxel
• Must not be eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Not specified
• Performance status
• GOG 0-2
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3
• Hepatic
• SGOT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Renal
• Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
• Other
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No active infection requiring antibiotics
• No neuropathy (sensory and motor) \> grade 1
• No history of peptic ulcer disease
• No allergies to sulfa or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• No known hypersensitivity to paclitaxel or celecoxib
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic therapy
• One prior non-cytotoxic\* regimen for recurrent or persistent disease allowed NOTE: \*Non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) agents include (but are not limited to) monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction
• Chemotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior chemotherapy
• No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimen
• Endocrine therapy
• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor
• Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior radiotherapy
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• Recovered from prior surgery
• Other
• At least 3 weeks since prior therapy for malignant tumor
• No prior celecoxib
• No prior therapy for a previous cancer that would preclude protocol therapy
• No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents