Paclitaxel and Ganetespib in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers who have received up to two prior treatment regimens
Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension in accordance with RECIST criteria version (v.) 1.1
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, or extended therapy administered after completion of initial chemotherapy; patients must be considered platinum resistant or refractory according to standard Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) criteria, i.e., have had a treatment-free interval following platinum of less than 12 months, have persistent disease at the completion of primary platinum-based therapy or have progressed during platinum-based therapy
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 -2
Leukocytes >= 3,000/mcL
Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL
Platelets >= 100,000/mcL
Total bilirubin =< normal institutional limits
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]/serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 2 times institutional normal limits
Creatinine =< normal institutional limits OR
Creatinine clearance >= 60 Ml/min/1.73 m^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal
Ability and willingness to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory assessments and other study procedures
Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who have had surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to entering the study or those who have toxicity that has not recovered to =< grade 1 from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier (with the exception of alopecia); patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents
Histologic diagnosis of a benign or borderline tumor ('tumor of low malignant potential') or of a malignant tumor of non-epithelial origin (such as a germ cell tumor, sex-cord stromal tumor) of the ovary, fallopian tube or peritoneum
Patients with known brain metastases
History of allergic reactions to Cremophor EL, paclitaxel or its components
Prior history of >= grade 2 neurotoxicity or any other toxicity requiring discontinuation of taxane therapy that has not resolved to =< grade 1, with the exception of alopecia
Diagnosis of another malignancy within two years before the first dose, or previously treated for another malignancy with evidence of residual disease, with the exception of a synchronous endometrial cancer; carcinoma in situ will not be considered as malignancy

Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, known serious cardiac illness or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements; known serious cardiac illness or medical conditions include, but are not limited to:

History of documented congestive heart failure (CHF), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II/III/IV, with a history of dyspnea, orthopnea, or edema that requires current treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, or diuretics

NOTE: use of these medications for the treatment of hypertension is allowed
Screening QTc (QT interval corrected for heart rate) > 470 msec or history of QT (cardiac interval from start of Q wave to end of T wave) prolongation while taking other medications
High-risk uncontrolled arrhythmias (ventricular arrhythmias, high-grade atrioventricular [AV]-block, supra-ventricular arrhythmias that are not adequately rate-controlled)
Arrhythmias that require current treatment with the following anti-arrhythmic drugs: flecainide, moricizine, or propafenone
Current coronary artery disease with a history of myocardial infarction, angioplasty, or coronary bypass surgery within the preceding 6 months, or angina pectoris that has been symptomatic within the preceding 6 months
Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy are ineligible
Pregnant or breast feeding