Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent or refractory ovarian
epithelial or peritoneal cancer Platinum resistant AND paclitaxel resistant Progressed on
or within 6 months of completing therapy with paclitaxel and platinum either alone or in
combination Bidimensionally measurable disease (excludes ascites and pleural effusions)
Brain metastases allowed provided that other measurable disease exists and brain lesions
required no therapy for 6 months and are not life threatening Not eligible for higher
priority GOG protocol

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: GOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At
least 8 weeks Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper
limit of normal (ULN) SGOT/SGPT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase no
greater than 2.5 times ULN Renal: Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL Other: No
significant infection Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients
must use effective contraception No history of allergic reaction to polysorbate 80 (e.g.,
etoposide or vitamin E) No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except
nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease
Characteristics Must have had at least 1 prior platinum based chemotherapeutic regimen
containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound Must have had at
least 1 prior paclitaxel based chemotherapeutic regimen 1 or 2 prior chemotherapy regimens
containing platinum and paclitaxel allowed Recovered from toxic effects No prior docetaxel
Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy Surgery: Recovered
from effects of recent surgery Other: At least 3 weeks since any prior therapy directed at
the malignant tumor No prior cancer treatment that contraindicates this protocol therapy