Topotecan in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian Epithelial, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer * Recurrent disease * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * At least 1 target lesion not in a previously irradiated field * Received 1, and only 1, prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen for primary disease containing carboplatin, cisplatin, or other organoplatinum compound * 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 that includes paclitaxel * Platinum-sensitive disease * Treatment-free interval\* without clinical evidence of progressive disease for \> 6 months after prior response to a platinum-based regimen NOTE: \*Non-platinum maintenance or consolidation therapy is not included in calculation of the treatment-free interval * Not eligible for a higher priority GOG protocol (i.e., any active phase III GOG protocol for the same patient population) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * GOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * SGOT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN Renal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Creatinine clearance \> 40 mL/min Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No sensory or motor neuropathy \> grade 1 * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior biologic or immunologic agents for the malignancy * No more than 1 prior non-cytotoxic (biologic or cytostatic) regimen (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, or small molecule inhibitors of signal transduction) for recurrent disease * No concurrent cytokines during the first course of study treatment * No concurrent pegfilgrastim Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * See Biologic therapy * Recovered from prior chemotherapy * No other prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent disease, including retreatment with initial chemotherapy regimen * No prior topotecan Endocrine therapy * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for the malignancy * Concurrent hormone replacement therapy allowed Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to \> 25% of marrow-bearing areas Surgery * Recovered from prior surgery Other * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy for the malignancy * No prior anticancer therapy that would preclude study treatment