A Phase III Randomized Trial of Cisplatin (NSC #119875) With Paclitaxel (NSC #125973) Administered by Either 24 Hour Infusion or 96 Hour Infusion in Patients With Selected Stage III and Stage IV Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed primary ovarian epithelial cancer or
primary peritoneal cancer Suboptimal residual disease within 6 weeks of laparotomy with
maximum resection Stage III residual retroperitoneal disease greater than 1 cm and no
greater than 1 cm residual intraperitoneal disease OR Stage IV disease The following
histologies are eligible: Serous adenocarcinoma Malignant Brenner's tumor Mucinous
adenocarcinoma Endometrioid adenocarcinoma Undifferentiated carcinoma Clear cell
adenocarcinoma Mixed epithelial carcinoma Transitional cell carcinoma Adenocarcinoma not
otherwise specified Measurable disease not required Cytologic confirmation of malignant
pleural effusion required if sole basis of entry No borderline (low malignant potential)
carcinoma No unclassified ovarian cancer, i.e., thought to be of ovarian origin but
unexplored or unable to verify tumor arising from ovarian stroma

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: GOG 0-2 Hematopoietic: WBC
at least 3,000/mm3 Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least
100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times normal AST, ALT, and GGT no
greater than 3 times normal Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times normal LDH no
greater than 3 times normal No acute hepatitis Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2 mg/dL
Cardiovascular: No history of congestive heart failure No history of unstable angina No
myocardial infarction within 6 months Other: No severe infection, including septicemia No
severe gastrointestinal bleeding No history of second malignancy within 5 years except
nonmelanomatous skin cancer Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective
contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior cytotoxic
chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy Surgery:
See Disease Characteristics No more than 6 weeks since staging laparotomy and primary
cytoreductive surgery