Gemcitabine and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Ovarian Epithelial or Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or peritoneal cavity cancer

Relapsed or refractory disease after prior first-line therapy with a platinum-containing regimen

Platinum-sensitive or -resistant disease

Platinum resistance is defined as relapsed or progressive disease within 6 months after completion of a platinum-containing regimen

Measurable or evaluable disease

Evaluable disease is defined as CA 125 > 70 U/mL that has doubled from a baseline determination confirmed by ≥ 2 separate blood samples taken > 4 weeks apart OR other evidence demonstrating progressive disease after initial treatment regimen

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

WBC ≥ 3,000/mm^3
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic

Bilirubin normal

Meets 1 of the following criteria:

AST or ALT normal AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN
AST or ALT ≤ 5 times ULN AND AP normal

Renal

Creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min
Creatinine < 2.5 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

No congestive heart failure
No second or third degree heart block
No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1
No other malignancy within the past 2 years except adequately treated skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix
No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Prior paclitaxel allowed

No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen

First-line platinum-based chemotherapy followed by consolidation therapy in the setting of a clinical and serologic complete response is considered 1 regimen
No prior gemcitabine or docetaxel

Endocrine therapy

Not specified

Radiotherapy

At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery

Not specified

Other

More than 28 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational drugs for this cancer
No other concurrent treatment or alternative therapy for this cancer