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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma*

Recurrent or refractory disease NOTE: *Histological confirmation of original primary tumor required

Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, and MRI OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

Must have ≥ 1 target lesion

Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as nontarget lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy

Prior treatment with 1 platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen (comprising carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound) for management of primary disease required

Initial treatment may have included any of the following:

High-dose therapy
Consolidation therapy
Extended therapy administered after surgical or nonsurgical assessment

Patients must meet ≥ 1 of the following criteria:

Treatment-free interval after platinum therapy of < 12 months
Progressed during platinum-based therapy
Persistent disease after a platinum-based regimen
Not eligible for a higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol, if one exists

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

GOG performance status 0-2
Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN
AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
No active infection requiring antibiotics
No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, except non-melanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy
No prior cancer treatment that would preclude protocol therapy

No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of ovarian cancer

Prior radiotherapy for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin is permitted, provided it was completed > 3 years prior to study entry and no recurrent or metastatic disease exists

No prior chemotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of ovarian cancer

Prior chemotherapy for localized cancer of the breast is permitted, provided it was completed > 3 years prior to study entry and no recurrent or metastatic disease exists
At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor
At least 2 weeks since other prior hormonal therapy (e.g., testosterone, estrogen, progestin, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists)
At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including biological or immunologic agents
One prior cytotoxic regimen (defined as 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) for management of recurrent or persistent disease allowed
No prior non-cytotoxic therapy for management of recurrent or persistent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma
No prior mifepristone