S0200 Carboplatin With or Without Doxil in Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial carcinoma * Stage III or IV disease at time of initial staging laparotomy * Primary peritoneal and mixed Mullerian tumors allowed * No borderline ovarian tumors * Disease progression or recurrence after a progression-free and platinum-free interval of 6-24 months after completion of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (either single agent or combination therapy) * Disease progression or recurrence based solely on CA 125 elevation allowed, provided that one of the following is true: * Prior baseline CA 125 greater than 35 U/mL and subsequent normalization of no greater than 35 U/mL must have CA 125 greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart * Prior baseline CA 125 greater than 35 U/mL that never normalized must have CA 125 greater than 2 times the nadir value on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart * Prior normal baseline CA 125 (no greater than 35 U/mL) must show CA 125 greater than 2 times ULN on 2 occasions at least 1 week apart * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * Not specified Performance status * Zubrod 0-1 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 10 g/dL Hepatic * SGOT and/or SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN * Bilirubin no greater than ULN Renal * Creatinine no greater than 1.9 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No New York Heart Association class II-IV cardiac disease * No clinical evidence of congestive heart failure * Ejection fraction greater than 50% by MUGA or 2-dimensional echocardiogram Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or incidental carcinoid cancer * No evidence of active or uncontrolled infection * No severe gastrointestinal symptoms (i.e., partial obstruction) and/or gastrointestinal bleeding or diarrhea * No greater than grade 1 preexisting sensory neuropathy PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 28 days since prior biologic consolidation therapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior non-platinum-containing consolidation chemotherapy * No prior pegylated doxorubicin HCl liposome * No prior cumulative anthracycline (e.g., doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin) dose in excess of 240 mg/m\^2 * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy Radiotherapy * No prior abdominopelvic irradiation * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * See Disease Characteristics * At least 28 days since prior surgical debulking for disease progression or recurrence and recovered * No concurrent surgery Other * No other prior treatment during the 6-24 month progression-free and platinum-free interval except up to 12 courses of consolidation therapy * No other concurrent anticancer therapy