Irofulven in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma * Recurrent or persistent disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable target lesion\* defined as: * At least 20 mm by conventional techniques OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Must have received 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound for primary disease * Initial treatment may have included high-dose, consolidation, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment * Patients who have not received prior paclitaxel may receive a second regimen containing paclitaxel * Ineligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (e.g., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population) * Platinum-sensitive disease * Platinum-free interval\*\* of more than 6 months, but less than 12 months duration, with no clinical evidence of progressive disease after response to platinum * Performance status - GOG 0-2 for patients who received 1 prior therapy regimen * Performance status - GOG 0-1 for patients who received 2 prior therapy regimens * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine normal * Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min * No prior congestive heart failure requiring medication * No uncontrolled hypertension within the past 6 months * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * No history of retinopathy and/or macular degeneration * No neuropathy (sensory and motor) greater than grade 1 * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other illness or condition that would preclude study entry * No prior bone marrow or stem cell transplantation * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic therapy or immunotherapy for malignant tumor * One prior non-cytotoxic regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small-molecule signal transduction inhibitors) allowed * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered * No prior irofulven * No additional prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimens * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for malignant tumor * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered * No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of marrow-bearing areas * Recovered from recent prior surgery * At least 3 weeks since any other prior therapy for malignant tumor * No prior anticancer treatment that would preclude study therapy * One prior noncytotoxic cytostatic regimen for recurrent or persistent disease allowed