EGEN-001 and Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

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

Patients with the following histologic epithelial cell types are eligible: high-grade serous adenocarcinoma, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, clear cell adenocarcinoma, mixed epithelial carcinoma, or adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (N.O.S.)

Patients must have recurrence documented by elevated CA-125 (biochemical recurrence) or clinically evident measurable or non-measurable recurrent disease as defined below:

* Biochemical recurrence is defined as a CA-125 greater than or equal to two times the upper normal limit; patients whose CA-125 is less than 100 U/mL must undergo a second confirmatory value within a period of not more than 4 weeks; patients with a level greater than or equal to 100 U/mL may be entered without confirmatory measurement; the CA-125 assessment for eligibility must be done at least 4 weeks after paracentesis or other surgical procedures

* Detectable (non-measurable) disease is defined as symptomatic ascites or pleural effusions, solid and/or cystic abnormalities on radiographic imaging that do not meet RECIST 1.1 definitions for target lesions and/or biopsy-proven recurrence

* Measurable disease will be defined by 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

* Patients with measurable disease must have had 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

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/mcl; this ANC cannot have been induced or supported by granulocyte colony-stimulating factors

Platelets \>= 100,000/mcl

Creatinine =\< 1.5 times institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)

Bilirubin =\< 1.5 times ULN

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 3.0 x ULN

Alkaline phosphatase =\< 2.5 x ULN

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than or equal to institutional lower limit of normal (LLN) as determined by gated cardiac radionucleotide scan (multi-gated acquisition scan \[MUGA\]) or echocardiogram

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

Patients must have recovered from effects of recent surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy

Patients should be free of active infection requiring parenteral antibiotics

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 intraperitoneal 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, two additional cytotoxic regimens for management of recurrent or persistent disease, with no more than 1 non-platinum, non-taxane regimen

Prior treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride \[Doxil\] or other anthracyclines is NOT allowed

Patients are allowed to receive, but are not required to receive, non-cytotoxic therapy (such as bevacizumab) as part of their primary treatment regimen

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, have progressed during platinum-based therapy, or have persistent disease after a platinum-based therapy

Gynecology Oncology Group (GOG) performance status of 0 or 1

Patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test prior to the study entry and be practicing an effective form of contraception; if applicable, patients must discontinue breastfeeding prior to study entry

Patients who have met the pre-entry requirements

Patients must have signed an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent and authorization permitting release of personal health information

What this study is about