Docetaxel and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Relapsed Stage III or Stage IV Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cavity cancer * Stage III or IV disease * No borderline tumors * Measurable or evaluable disease * Measurable disease, defined as evidence of disease by physical examination or radiographic evaluation * Evaluable disease, defined as CA 125 ≥ 100 U/mL (confirmed by 2 blood tests performed ≥ 1 week apart) * In first relapse * Platinum-sensitive disease, defined as initial relapse \> 6 months after completion of a platinum-based regimen PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 2.5 times ULN * SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 5.0 times ULN AND AP normal Renal * Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL * Creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min Cardiovascular * LVEF ≥ 50% * No poorly controlled arrhythmia * No unstable coronary artery disease or myocardial infarction within the past year Other * HIV negative * No pre-existing peripheral neuropathy \> grade 2 * No history of allergy to study drugs PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * Recovered from recent prior surgery Other * No concurrent myelosuppressive therapy