Belinostat and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Did Not Respond to Carboplatin or Cisplatin

Patients must have recurrent or persistent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma; histologic documentation of the original primary tumor is required via the pathology report

Patients with the following histologic epithelial cell types are eligible: Serous adenocarcinoma, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, clear cell adenocarcinoma, mixed epithelial carcinoma, transitional cell carcinoma, malignant Brenner's Tumor, or adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (N.O.S.)

All patients must have measurable disease as defined by RECIST 1.1; measureable disease is defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest dimension to be recorded); each lesion must be \>= 10 mm when measured by CT, MRI or caliper measurement by clinical exam; or \>= 20 mm when measured by chest x-ray; lymph nodes must be \>= 15 mm in short axis when measured by CT or MRI

Patients must have at least one "target lesion" to be used to assess response on this protocol as defined by RECIST 1.1; tumors within a previously irradiated field will be designated as "non-target" lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence at least 90 days following completion of radiation therapy

Patients must not be eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol, if one exists; in general, this would refer to any active GOG Phase III or Rare Tumor protocol for the same patient population

Patients must have a GOG Performance Status of 0, 1, or 2

Recovery from effects of recent surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy

* Patients should be free of active infection requiring antibiotics (with the exception of uncomplicated UTI)

* Any hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor must be discontinued at least one week prior to registration; continuation of hormone replacement therapy is permitted

* Any other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including biological and immunologic agents, must be discontinued at least three weeks prior to registration

Patients must have had one prior platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen for management of primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound; this initial treatment may have included non-cytotoxic therapy, intraperitoneal therapy, high-dose therapy, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment

Patients must be considered platinum resistant or refractory according to the following criteria:

* Patients must have had progression of disease on or within 6 months of their last platinum dose

* Progression of disease is defined according to RECIST 1.1

* The development of CA125 elevation on or within 6 months of last platinum treatment, in the absence of radiographic progression according to RECIST 1.1, is not considered platinum resistance for the purposes of this study

Patients who have NOT received prior therapy with taxane-based chemotherapy MUST receive a second regimen that includes paclitaxel or docetaxel

Patients must be considered paclitaxel-resistant, i.e., have had a treatment-free interval following paclitaxel of less than six months, or have progressed during paclitaxel-based therapy

Patients must have NOT received any additional cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens except as noted above; (note: Optimal evaluation of the safety and efficacy of new chemotherapy regimens is best performed in patients with minimal prior therapy; non-investigational therapy, such as retreatment with platinum and/or paclitaxel, is non-curative in the setting of recurrent disease, and can generally be safely administered to patients following participation in a phase II trial)

Patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, one additional non-cytotoxic regimen for management of recurrent or persistent disease according to the following definition:

* Non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) agents include (but are not limited to) monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, and small-molecule inhibitors of signal transduction

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1,500/mcl, equivalent to the NCI Common Terminology Criteria (CTCAE v3.0) grade 1

Platelets greater than or equal to 100,000/mcl

Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x institutional upper limit normal (ULN), per CTCAE v.3.0 grade 1

Bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN (CTCAE v.3.0 grade 1)

SGOT (AST) less than or equal to 3 x ULN (per the CTCAE v.3.0 grade 1)

Alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN (CTCAE v.3.0 grade 1)

Neuropathy (sensory and motor) less than or equal to the CTCAE v3.0 grade 1

Patients must have signed an approved informed consent and authorization permitting release of personal health information

Patients must meet pre-entry requirements

Patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to the study entry and be practicing an effective form of contraception

What this study is about