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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer

Recurrent disease

Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan

At least 1 target lesion not in a previously irradiated field

Received 1, and only 1, prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen for primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound

Initial treatment may have included high-dose, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment
Patients who have not received prior paclitaxel may receive a second regimen that includes paclitaxel

Platinum-sensitive disease

Treatment-free interval* without clinical evidence of progressive disease for > 6 months after prior response to a platinum-based regimen NOTE: *Non-platinum maintenance or consolidation therapy is not included in calculation of the treatment-free interval
Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (i.e., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

18 and over

Performance status

GOG 0-2

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3

Hepatic

Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN
Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN

Renal

Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN
Creatinine clearance > 40 mL/min

Other

Not pregnant or nursing
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No sensory or motor neuropathy > grade 1
No active infection requiring antibiotics
No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for the malignancy
No more than 1 prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) for recurrent disease
No concurrent cytokines during the first course of study treatment
No concurrent pegfilgrastim

Chemotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
See Biologic therapy
Recovered from prior chemotherapy
No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimen
No prior topotecan

Endocrine therapy

At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy
Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed

Radiotherapy

See Disease Characteristics
Recovered from prior radiotherapy
No prior radiotherapy to > 25% of marrow-bearing areas

Surgery

Recovered from prior surgery

Other

At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy
No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study treatment