Oxaliplatin and Topotecan in Treating Patients With Previously Treated Ovarian Epithelial, Primary Peritoneal, or Fallopian Tube Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically or cytologically confirmed ovarian epithelial cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer Prior chemotherapy required Measurable or evaluable disease No symptomatic, untreated brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100% Life expectancy: At least 4 months Hematopoietic: WBC greater than 3,000/mm^3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm^3 Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm^3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) OR SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (5 times ULN if liver metastases) Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled symptomatic congestive heart failure No unstable angina pectoris No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Other: No other active cancer No prior allergy to platinum compounds No prior allergic reactions to appropriate antiemetics (e.g., serotonin or antagonists) administered concurrently with study No other uncontrolled concurrent illness (e.g., infection) Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study therapy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: See Chemotherapy No concurrent colony stimulating factors during topotecan administration Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics No prior high-dose chemotherapy requiring bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy to whole pelvic field At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: No unresolved sequelae resulting from prior surgery Other: At least 4 weeks since other prior investigational drug No other concurrent investigational agents No other concurrent anticancer therapy