Lapatinib in Treating Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial or Peritoneal Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer * Measurable disease * At least 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Presence of ≥ 1 target lesion * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are not considered target lesions unless evidence of progression is documented or proven by biopsy 3 months after completion of radiotherapy * Disease progression during OR persistent disease after 1 prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen\* for primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound * Initial treatment may have included high-dose therapy, consolidation therapy, or extended therapy administered after surgical or non-surgical assessment * Treatment-free interval after platinum-based chemotherapy \< 12 months * Tumor accessible by guided core needle or fine needle biopsy * Ineligible for any higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocols (i.e., any active phase III protocol for the same patient population) * Performance status - GOG 0-2 (patients who have received 1 prior treatment regimen) * Performance status - GOG 0-1 (patients who have received 2 prior treatment regimens) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Ejection fraction normal by echocardiogram or MUGA * No GI disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication * No malabsorption syndrome * No requirement for IV alimentation * No uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis) * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for ≥ 1 month after completion of study treatment * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer * No history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biological composition to lapatinib * At least 4 weeks since prior immunologic agents for the malignancy * No prior trastuzumab (Herceptin®)or cetuximab * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * At least 6 weeks since prior nitrosoureas or mitomycin for the malignancy * No prior non-cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent or persistent disease * At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent dexamethasone or dexamethasone equivalent dose \> 1.5 mg/day * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior surgery * No prior surgical procedure affecting gastrointestinal (GI) absorption * At least 4 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * At least 1 week since other prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors * At least 2 weeks since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers * At least 1 week since prior and no concurrent H2 inhibitors or proton pump inhibitors * Concurrent antacids allowed provided they are not administered within 1 hour before and 1 hour after study drug administration * No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study treatment * No prior lapatinib * No other prior target-specific therapy directed to the HER family (e.g., gefitinib or erlotinib) * No concurrent herbal medications * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients