Gemcitabine and Docetaxel in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Ovarian Epithelial or Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or peritoneal cavity cancer * Relapsed or refractory disease after prior first-line therapy with a platinum-containing regimen * Platinum-sensitive or -resistant disease * Platinum resistance is defined as relapsed or progressive disease within 6 months after completion of a platinum-containing regimen * Measurable or evaluable disease * Evaluable disease is defined as CA 125 \> 70 U/mL that has doubled from a baseline determination confirmed by ≥ 2 separate blood samples taken \> 4 weeks apart OR other evidence demonstrating progressive disease after initial treatment regimen PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * Not specified Hematopoietic * WBC ≥ 3,000/mm\^3 * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * AST or ALT normal AND alkaline phosphatase (AP) ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN * AST or ALT ≤ 5 times ULN AND AP normal Renal * Creatinine clearance \> 30 mL/min * Creatinine \< 2.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular * No congestive heart failure * No second or third degree heart block * No myocardial infarction within the past 3 months Other * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * No other malignancy within the past 2 years except adequately treated skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * Not specified Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * Prior paclitaxel allowed * No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen * First-line platinum-based chemotherapy followed by consolidation therapy in the setting of a clinical and serologic complete response is considered 1 regimen * No prior gemcitabine or docetaxel Endocrine therapy * Not specified Radiotherapy * At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 28 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational drugs for this cancer * No other concurrent treatment or alternative therapy for this cancer