Docetaxel and Oxaliplatin in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer Stage III or IV disease Metastatic peritoneal, lymphatic, or visceral disease Measurable or evaluable disease Previously untreated disease OR relapsed disease more than 6 months after the completion of a platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen No symptomatic brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 to 75 Performance status WHO 0-2 (0 in patients 70 to 75 years of age) Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin no greater than 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AST and ALT no greater than 3 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase less than 2.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL Other No serious uncontrolled infection No intolerance to polysorbate 80 No peripheral neuropathy greater than grade 1 No neurological or mental disease that would preclude study participation No other prior malignancy except curatively treated basal cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen No prior oxaliplatin or docetaxel Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery Not specified Other More than 28 days since prior participation in another clinical study No other concurrent anticancer treatment