Lapatinib and Topotecan in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer or Primary Peritoneal Cancer That Did Not Respond to Cisplatin or Carboplatin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma * Must have one of the following: * Measurable disease * Evaluable disease AND a CA-125 value that has increased ≥ 2 times the nadir value established after debulking surgery and first-line chemotherapy, confirmed by a second measurement within the past 21 days * If a second measurement has not been done, it can be done ≥ 7 days but \< 21 days prior to study treatment * Platinum-refractory and/or -resistant disease after first-line chemotherapy * Patients retreated with platinum agents (i.e., second relapse) are not eligible * Patients treated with first-line triplet therapy (e.g., on clinical trial GOG-182) are eligible * Must have had debulking surgery * Tissue blocks from this surgery must be available * No CNS metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2 * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST ≤ 3 times ULN (5 times ULN if there is liver involvement) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times ULN * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * No uncontrolled infection * No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart failure * Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% by echocardiogram * No seizure disorder * No other prior or concurrent malignancy in the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior topotecan hydrochloride * More than 4 weeks since prior surgery or procedure involving the peritoneum or pleura * CA125 measurements used as basis for enrollment must be made outside of this 4-week window * More than 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) and recovered * More than 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior biologic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No prior radiotherapy to \> 25 % of bone marrow * No prior therapy with an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor or anti-HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors * No prior agents targeting topoisomerase I * No prior or concurrent human anti-mouse antibodies (HAMA) in patients with non-measurable disease * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent herbal or dietary supplements * Vitamin supplements are allowed unless they include herbal additives * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inducers, including any of the following: * Rifampin * Rifabutin * Rifapentine * Phenytoin * Carbamazepine * Phenobarbital * Efavirenz * Nevirapine * Cortisone (\> 50 mg) * Hydrocortisone (\> 40 mg) * Prednisone (\> 10 mg) * Methylprednisolone (\> 8 mg) * Dexamethasone (\> 1.5 mg) * Oral doses of ≤ 1.6 mg of dexamethasone allowed * Modafinil * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * At least 7 days since prior and no concurrent CYP3A4 inhibitors, including any of the following: * Clarithromycin * Erythromycin * Troleandomycin * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Fluconazole (\> 150 mg daily) * Voriconazole * Delaviridine * Nelfinavir * Amprenavir * Ritonavir * Indinavir * Saquinavir * Lopinavir * Verapamil * Diltiazem * Nefazodone * Fluvoxamine * Cimetidine * Aprepitant * Grapefruit or grapefruit juice * At least 6 months since prior and no concurrent amiodarone * No concurrent participation in another study involving a pharmacologic agent (e.g., drugs, biologics, immunotherapy, gene therapy) for symptom control or therapeutic intent