Rilotumumab in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

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

All patients must have measurable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1; measurable disease is defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded); each lesion must be \>= 10 mm when measured by computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (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

Patient 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 Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol, if one exists; in general, this would refer to any active GOG Phase III protocol for the same patient population

Patients who have received one prior regimen must have a GOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2

* Patients who have received two prior regimens must have a GOG performance status of 0 or 1

Recovery from effects of recent surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy

Major surgical procedures must have taken place \> 30 days before enrollment; minor surgical procedures must have taken place \> 14 days before enrollment; central venous catheter placement is allowed at any time prior to enrollment provided the patient has recovered and any surgical would has healed

Patients should be free of active infection requiring antibiotics (with the exception of uncomplicated urinary tract infections \[UTI\])

Any hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor must be discontinued at least one week prior to registration

Any other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including 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 intraperitoneal therapy, high-dose therapy, consolidation, non-cytotoxic agents or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment

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

* Cytotoxic regimens include any agent that targets the genetic and/or mitotic apparatus of dividing cells, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity to the bone marrow and/or gastrointestinal mucosa

* Note: Patients on this non-cytotoxic study are allowed to have received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease, as defined above; however, patients are encouraged to enroll on second-line non-cytotoxic studies prior to receiving additional cytotoxic therapy

Patients who have received only one prior cytotoxic regimen (platinum-based regimen for management of primary disease), must have a platinum-free interval of less than 12 months, or have progressed during platinum-based therapy, or have persistent disease after a platinum-based therapy

Patients must NOT have received any non-cytotoxic therapy for management of recurrent or persistent disease; patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, biologic (non-cytotoxic) therapy as part of their primary treatment regimen

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1,500/mcl

Platelets greater than or equal to 100,000/mcl

Hemoglobin \>= 9 g/dL

Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 x institutional upper limit normal (ULN)

Bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\]) less than or equal to 3 x ULN

Alkaline phosphatase less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN

PTT (partial thromboplastin time) =\< 1.5 x ULN

International normalized ratio (INR) =\< 1.5 x ULN

Neuropathy (sensory and motor) less than or equal to CTCAE grade 1

Proteinuria: =\< 1+ (urinalysis) or \< 1 g/24 hrs (24 hour urine collection)

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