Bryostatin 1 in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically proven ovarian epithelial cancer * Progressive disease during or after completion of at least one platinum based chemotherapy regimen * Bidimensionally measurable disease * At least 2 cm by x-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound * No active, symptomatic brain metastases (e.g., cerebral edema and/or progressive tumor growth) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * WHO 0-2 Life expectancy: * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic: * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL * WBC at least 4,000/mm3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.7 mg/dL * AST/ALT no greater than 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (no greater than 5 times ULN if liver metastases present) Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL Other: * No active, uncontrolled infection * No nonmalignant systemic disease which would increase risk to patient * No other malignancies within the past 5 years except curatively treated basal or squamous cell skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 2 months after study PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks since nitrosoureas or mitomycin) and recovered * No more than 2 prior multidrug chemotherapy regimens * No more than 1 prior single agent chemotherapy regimen Endocrine therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior endocrine therapy and recovered * No concurrent steroids * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy (excluding palliative therapy) and recovered * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * At least 4 weeks since prior major thoracic or abdominal surgery Other: * No other concurrent anticancer therapy or investigational drugs