Docetaxel and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Relapsed Stage III or Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cavity cancer Stage III or IV disease No borderline tumors Measurable or evaluable disease Measurable disease, defined as evidence of disease by physical examination or radiographic evaluation Evaluable disease, defined as CA 125 ≥ 100 U/mL (confirmed by 2 blood tests performed ≥ 1 week apart) In first relapse Platinum-sensitive disease, defined as initial relapse > 6 months after completion of a platinum-based regimen PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin normal Meets 1 of the following criteria: SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 2.5 times ULN SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 5.0 times ULN AND AP normal Renal Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL Creatinine clearance > 50 mL/min Cardiovascular LVEF ≥ 50% No poorly controlled arrhythmia No unstable coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction within the past year Other HIV negative No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy > grade 2 No history of allergy to study drugs PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy See Disease Characteristics At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery Recovered from recent prior surgery Other No concurrent myelosuppressive therapy