Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Ovarian Epithelial Cancer, Fallopian Tube Cancer, or Peritoneal Cancer in at Least the Second Remission

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed epithelial carcinoma arising in the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum * Any stage and grade at diagnosis * Must have received initial cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy with ≥ 1 platinum-based chemotherapy regimen * Persistent or recurrent disease after initial therapy * In complete clinical remission after chemotherapy for recurrent disease, meeting all of the following criteria: * CA125 ≤ 35 units/L * Normal physical examination * No definite evidence of disease by CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis * Lymph nodes and/or soft tissue abnormalities ≤ 1.0 cm are not considered definite evidence of disease * No known brain metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusion criteria: * Karnofsky performance status 70-100% * Life expectancy \> 3 months * ANC ≥ 1,500/mm³ * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL * INR \< 1.5 OR PT/PTT within normal limits * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Urinalysis negative for protein * If urinalysis shows 1+ protein by dipstick or protein ≥ 30-100 mg/dL by semi-quantitative assay, a 24-hour urine collection is required * Eligible patients must have a total urinary protein ≤ 500 mg AND measured creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min from a 24-hour urine collection * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times ULN * AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN * Stable blood pressure (BP) measurement required on 3 separate days prior to the start of treatment * No peripheral neuropathy \> grade 1 * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception Exclusion criteria: * Other invasive malignancies within the past 5 years, except nonmelanoma skin cancer * Uncontrolled concurrent illness or medical condition including, but not limited to, any of the following: * Ongoing or active infection * Symptomatic congestive heart failure * Unstable angina pectoris * Cardiac arrhythmia * Uncontrolled diabetes * Psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as a persistent BP \> 150/100 mm Hg (or a persistent BP \> 180/90 mm Hg if the patient has a history of isolated systolic hypertension) despite ≥ 2 attempts at antihypertensive medication dosage adjustment ≥ 2 weeks apart * Thrombolic or embolic events such as cerebrovascular accident, including transient ischemic attack, within the past 6 months * Pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding event ≥ grade 2 within 4 weeks of the first dose of study drug * Other hemorrhage or bleeding event ≥ grade 3 within 4 weeks of the first dose of study drug * Serious nonhealing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture * Evidence or history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy * Inability to take oral medications or gastrointestinal condition that compromises absorption * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sorafenib tosylate PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Inclusion criteria: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior sorafenib tosylate or other inhibitors of MAPK signaling intermediates or angiogenesis inhibitors * No prior cancer treatment that would contraindicate protocol therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * More than 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy, biological therapy, or immunotherapy * More than 1 week since prior hormonal therapy for cancer treatment Exclusion criteria: * Major surgery (i.e., laparotomy) within the past 4 weeks or minor surgery within the past 2 weeks * Placement of a vascular access device is not considered minor surgery * Concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * Concurrent St. John wort, rifampin, or enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazepine, phenytoin, or phenobarbital)