Docetaxel and Capecitabine in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Peritoneal Cavity Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of 1 of the following: * Ovarian epithelial adenocarcinoma * Fallopian tube cancer * Peritoneal cavity cancer * Recurrent or persistent disease after no more than 2 prior treatment regimens (1 regimen for primary disease and/or 1 regimen for recurrent disease) * Platinum-resistant disease, defined as 1 of the following: * Treatment-free interval \< 6 months after platinum-based therapy * Disease progression during platinum-based therapy * Measurable disease by physical exam, chest x-ray, CT scan, or MRI * No brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Gynecologic Oncology Group performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy \> 6 months * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min * Bilirubin normal * AST or ALT and alkaline phosphatase (AP) meeting 1 of the following criteria: * AST or ALT ≤ 5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) AND AP normal * AST or ALT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND AP ≤ 2.5 times ULN * AST or ALT normal AND AP ≤ 5 times ULN * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 2 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after completion of study treatment * No other concurrent malignancy except for curatively treated nonmelanoma skin cancer * No prior invasive malignancy \< 5 years after curative therapy * No serious uncontrolled medical or psychiatric illness that would preclude study participation or limit survival to \< 6 months * No history of severe hypersensitivity reaction to drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 or to fluoropyrimidine therapy or fluorouracil * No inability to tolerate oral medication due to bowel obstruction, lack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract, inability to swallow, or malabsorption syndrome * No serious concurrent infections * No clinically significant cardiac disease not well controlled with medication, including any of the following: * Congestive heart failure * Symptomatic coronary artery disease * Symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias * Myocardial infarction within the past 12 months PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior docetaxel or capecitabine or other fluoropyrimidine therapy * Recovered from prior therapy * At least 2 weeks since prior major surgery * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiotherapy * No other concurrent chemotherapeutic agents, biological therapy, radiotherapy, or other investigational agents