Docetaxel and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cavity cancer Stage IC-IV disease No borderline or low malignant potential tumors of any stage Underwent initial surgical management, including staging, of early stage disease or surgical debulking of advanced stage disease* NOTE: *Patients may delay surgical debulking, if clinically indicated, until after study entry; these patients may receive several courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgical debulking, but before study entry PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm^3 Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic Bilirubin normal Meets 1 of the following criteria: Alkaline phosphatase (AP) normal AND AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AP ≤ 5 times ULN AND AST or ALT normal Renal Not specified Other Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 3 months after completion of study treatment No peripheral neuropathy > grade 1 No prior malignancy with a poor prognosis that is at risk of relapse during study participation, as determined by the principal investigator No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy No concurrent chemotherapy for another malignancy Endocrine therapy Not specified Radiotherapy Not specified Surgery See Disease Characteristics