Irofulven in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Persistent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed recurrent or persistent ovarian epithelial cancer, primary fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer that failed prior standard chemotherapy Measurable disease No history of brain metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 2 months Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL (transfusion allowed) Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin normal ALT and AST no greater than 2.5 times normal PT or PTT no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL OR Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min Urinalysis normal BUN normal Electrolytes normal Cardiovascular: No unstable or newly diagnosed angina pectoris within the past 6 months No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months No New York Heart Association class II-IV congestive heart failure Pulmonary: No chronic obstructive lung disease requiring oxygen supplementation therapy or medication Other: No medical or surgical complications requiring intervention, such as: Impending bowel obstruction Active infection No other life-threatening illness No non-skin malignancy or melanoma within the past 4.5 years except curatively treated other malignancy with low risk of recurrence or surgically cured stage I endometrial cancer No uncontrolled seizures Not pregnant or nursing HIV negative

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Recovered from prior biologic therapy No prior bone marrow transplantation Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) Endocrine therapy: Recovered from prior endocrine therapy Radiotherapy: Recovered from prior radiotherapy No prior external beam radiotherapy Surgery: Recovered from prior surgery Other: At least 1 week since prior antibiotics