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

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ovarian epithelial, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube carcinoma\* * Recurrent or refractory disease NOTE: \*Histological confirmation of original primary tumor required * Measurable disease, defined as ≥ 1 unidimensionally measurable lesion ≥ 20 mm by conventional techniques, including palpation, plain x-ray, CT scan, and MRI OR ≥ 10 mm by spiral CT scan * Must have ≥ 1 target lesion * Tumors within a previously irradiated field are designated as nontarget lesions unless progression is documented or a biopsy is obtained to confirm persistence ≥ 90 days after completion of radiotherapy * Prior treatment with 1 platinum-based chemotherapeutic regimen (comprising carboplatin, cisplatin, or another organoplatinum compound) for management of primary disease required * Initial treatment may have included any of the following: * High-dose therapy * Consolidation therapy * Extended therapy administered after surgical or nonsurgical assessment * Patients must meet ≥ 1 of the following criteria: * Treatment-free interval after platinum therapy of \< 12 months * Progressed during platinum-based therapy * Persistent disease after a platinum-based regimen * Not eligible for a higher priority Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol, if one exists PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * GOG performance status 0-2 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * AST ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * No active infection requiring antibiotics * No other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, except non-melanoma skin cancer PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * Recovered from prior surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy * No prior cancer treatment that would preclude protocol therapy * No prior radiotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of ovarian cancer * Prior radiotherapy for localized cancer of the breast, head and neck, or skin is permitted, provided it was completed \> 3 years prior to study entry and no recurrent or metastatic disease exists * No prior chemotherapy to any portion of the abdominal cavity or pelvis unless for treatment of ovarian cancer * Prior chemotherapy for localized cancer of the breast is permitted, provided it was completed \> 3 years prior to study entry and no recurrent or metastatic disease exists * At least 1 week since prior hormonal therapy directed at the malignant tumor * At least 2 weeks since other prior hormonal therapy (e.g., testosterone, estrogen, progestin, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists) * At least 3 weeks since other prior therapy directed at the malignant tumor, including biological or immunologic agents * One prior cytotoxic regimen (defined as any agent that targets the genetic and/or mitotic apparatus of dividing cells, resulting in dose-limiting toxicity to the bone marrow and/or gastrointestinal mucosa) for management of recurrent or persistent disease allowed * No prior non-cytotoxic therapy for management of recurrent or persistent ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal carcinoma * No prior mifepristone