Karenitecin in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer

  • Recurrent or persistent disease
  • Platinum-resistant 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 to assess response (tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as non-target)
• Ineligible for a higher priority GOG study or other phase II cytotoxic study for platinum-resistant disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• Any age

Performance status

• GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

• Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• ALT no greater than 2.5 times ULN
• Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

• No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months
• No cerebrovascular accident within the past 6 months
• No transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No decompensated or uncontrolled chronic heart failure

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception
• No neuropathy (sensory or motor) grade 2 or greater
• No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer
• No active infection requiring antibiotics

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• At least 3 weeks since prior biological or immunological agents

Chemotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
• No more than 2 prior cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens, with no more than 1 non-platinum, non-taxane regimen
• No prior karenitecin or camptothecin analogue/derivative

Endocrine therapy

• At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy

  • Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy

• See Disease Characteristics
• At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
• No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas

Surgery

• Recovered from recent surgery

Other

• At least 3 weeks since prior therapy directed at this malignancy
• No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study therapy
• No concurrent amifostine or other protective reagents