Phenoxodiol Combined With Either Cisplatin or Paclitaxel in 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 Received no more than 4 prior chemotherapy regimens for this malignancy Considered refractory or resistant to prior taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel) and/or platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) therapy based on 1 of the following criteria: Treatment-free interval < 6 months after platinum or paclitaxel Disease progression during platinum- or paclitaxel-based therapy Measurable or evaluable disease Measurable disease is defined as at least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan Evaluable disease is defined as doubling of CA 125 blood levels within the past 6 months AND CA 125 level ≥ 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) within the past week No active CNS metastases Patients with known CNS metastases must have received prior radiotherapy or CNS-directed chemotherapy AND have ≥ 4 weeks of stable disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age Over 18 Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy At least 3 months Hematopoietic Neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3 WBC > 3,000/mm^3 Hematocrit ≥ 28% (transfusion or growth factors allowed) Hemoglobin > 8.0 g/dL (transfusion or growth factors allowed) Hepatic Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No active infection requiring antibiotics No neuropathy (sensory or motor) > grade 1 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy No concurrent hormonal therapy for the malignancy Radiotherapy See Disease Characteristics No prior whole abdominal radiotherapy Concurrent localized radiotherapy allowed for control of local complications not indicative of general disease progression Surgery Not specified Other Recovered from prior antineoplastic therapy More than 4 weeks since prior standard therapy for malignant tumor More than 6 months since prior investigational anticancer drugs No other concurrent investigational drugs No concurrent drugs significantly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4/B1C No concurrent amifostine or other protective agents No concurrent grapefruit juice